Rep. Cuellar Joins Texas Legal Aid Organizations to Announce $2.5 Million in Grants Benefiting Survivors of Natural Disasters
Contact
Carl Rauscher
Director of Communications and Media Relations
rauscherc@lsc.gov
202-295-1615
San Antonio, TX—Rep. Henry Cuellar (TX-28) and Legal Services Corporation (LSC) President Ronald S. Flagg will join leaders from three Texas legal services organizations on July 25 to announce $2.5 million in LSC grants to support disaster relief.
LSC is awarding $1,443,267 to Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (LANWT) to support the delivery of legal services to low-income people impacted by Winter Storm Uri and other severe weather events. LSC is also awarding $866,760 to Lone Star Legal Aid (LSLA) and $251,529 to Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA) to reimburse already incurred costs from providing natural disaster services to low-income Texans in 2020 and 2021. For more on these funded projects, read here.
“Winter Storm Uri devastated many south Texas communities and since then, I have been working diligently to shore up our infrastructure and services to ensure that our community is prepared for severe weather events,” said Rep. Cuellar. “I am excited to announce the $251,000 grant for Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid. This funding will assist with legal services in Floresville, Jourdanton, Laredo, Rio Grande City and San Antonio to help provide legal assistance for those struggling to recover from the impacts of Winter Storm Uri. Thank you to my partners at Legal Services Corporation for their commitment and dedication to helping Texas residents get back on their feet.”
LANWT, LSLA and TRLA are three of 19 organizations around the country receiving disaster grants totaling $38 million from LSC. This funding was included in an emergency supplemental appropriation attached to the Continuing Resolution passed by Congress in September 2021.
“Low-income people who confront civil legal issues in the wake of natural disasters face an uphill battle, and they shouldn’t have to go it alone,” said Flagg. “We are grateful that Congress recognizes the need for legal assistance in these recovering communities and provided this funding that will help our neighbors repair and stay in their homes, obtain key identification documents, apply for benefits and so much more.
The event will be held Monday at 1pm CDT at the Shaefer Library, 6322 US Hwy 87 E, San Antonio. It is open to the press.