Below are excerpts from some of the more recent grant applications we have received:
I was trapped in the New Orleans Criminal District Court building during the hurricane for 5 days. After I got out I bounced around from state to state . . . I applied too late [to FEMA] to receive the $2,000 grant for expedited assistance and made the mistake of applying for temporary housing grant when I returned home to New Orleans, so I did not get the $2,300 check for housing assistance. I have received nothing from the government to help me survive. . . . I lost my car during the storm. My house did not get much damage, but it is infested with mold.
The funds are needed to purchase clothing (suits), a computer, a printer, filing cabinets, and other office supplies.
My home had two feet of salt water which surged from the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Rita on September 24, 2005. The inside walls of my home have been torn off or cut. I am currently living with friends. I am a single mother . . . I am a sole practitioner. . . . Please help me.
Lost reporters and other law books as well as 19 years of research files and 15 years of documents on the hard drive of my computer. Also lost hard copies of 20 years of briefs. Both home and office were rendered unusable by Katrina. . . .
My office was located in my home . . . At least 3 feet of water inundated the interior of my home. . . . I still have no phone service other than my cell phone and I have no internet access or fax capability. Some of my public defender files along with various office supplies were destroyed as well. My brief case was also ruined. Thank you for your help.
If you send $5, that is fine too. . . . Cuts in [the public defender] staff are EXPECTED and this has been announced. . . . my criminal practice here is shut down. With the destruction of criminal records and extensive damage to all courthouses, I expect the return of retainers to clients will become necessary . . . I am charging everything to my credit cards, and I hope to save enough money to pay all my bills when they inevitably come due. . . .
I have been displaced from both my home and my office since Katrina hit New Orleans. . . . We have had no access to our office since the storm. I need a laptop computer to continue to communicate with my colleagues and work on my cases. In addition, because my car was in the parking garage at the office, I have had to rent a car. My home has extensive roof damage. The back part of the roof was ripped off, some of the gutters were ripped off and there is water damage in my bedroom and possibly my bathroom. Finally, to make matters worse, someone broke into my house and stole [several items]. It’s been an incredibly rough time in my life and I would appreciate any help you could provide in putting my life and my practice back together.
The roof of my office was breached causing the entire ceiling to collapse in my office and on my end of our building. I do not own the building, but I had no renter’s insurance. I am having to replace almost my entire office equipment from computers to books to furniture. . . .
My office was damaged, files damaged, no income, my clients thought that I had disappeared and I need help. Am in the process of reopening the office. Whatever help will be appreciated.
Funds will be used to purchase office equipment such as computer, printer, fax, desk, etc. My office was located in . . . New Orleans . . .and was flooded by about 5 1/2 - 6 feet of water. Everything is ruined.
. . . Sustained five feet of water for what I have been told is approx. one month and was renting property in which home and office were located. . . . I have no income at present, nor can I practice due to lack of housing. I have trials through Feb. 2006 but have been unable to attend to these obligations due to overwhelming and time-consuming issues related to displacement of home and business.
As a result of Hurricane Katrina, my practice has been virtually obliterated. I must immediately replace client files, computer equipment, electronics and office furniture, as well as locate office space. Any assistance you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
The building where my law office is located was badly damaged and will not be repaired (per the owner) for several months. . . . Some time after the hurricane our office was also robbed and vandalized.
I have been working for the public defender’s office . . . . They have recently cut our salaries in half due to the hurricane. I was also in private practice . . . , practicing criminal defense work exclusively and have lost the practice due to the hurricane. There are no more clients and my office and home were both destroyed.
I am unable to use my office and need funds to purchase office supplies and other things needed to rebuild my law practice. I have lost clients and am having trouble collecting fees. I would also like to help poor defendants.
No new client contact in 60 days. Indigent defense attorney pay cut 50%. No resources available to prepare defense of indigents, must travel to see indigent clients at state institutions because local jail is closed.
I have lost my home, my clothes, and my job. I need to re-establish my practice so that people can contact me and I can properly represent my clients. . . .