Mandarin/Cantonese Translators Needed

Brooklyn Jubilee is providing free legal services to Coney Island residents, primarily concerning FEMA, housing, public benefits, and insurance questions.  We need Mandarin, Cantonese, Urdu and Russian interpreters all week long, but primarily on Saturdays.  Interpreters will assist attorneys and paralegals conducting new client intake. No legal expertise is required for this volunteer position.

Intake hours are 10-3 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday.  Intake hours are 2-7 on Thursday.  Interpreters would be appreciated for 2-3 hours of the intake session any day of the week, but especially on Saturdays.  Please contact Executive Director Sandhya Reju Boyd at [email protected] if interested in volunteering.

Brooklyn Jubilee also provides opportunities for legal volunteers, which requires attendance at a training (next one is scheduled for 2/23).  A follow-up announcement regarding that opportunity will be forthcoming soon.

CORRECTION – Sandy Resources and FEMA Application Deadline: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27th, 2013

**CORRECTION**

As of today, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that FEMA has also given New York a 30-day extension for applying for individual assistance. In addition, FEMA has extended access to its Transitional Sheltering Assistance program, by 14 days. That will allow New Yorkers to stay in hotels through February 9 (check-out is Sunday, February 10th) if their homes were damaged by the storm.

DEADLINE TO APPLY FOR FEMA BENEFITS HAS BEEN EXTENDED: WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 27th, 2013
Click HERE to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

Dear Friends,

As our community is still struggling because of immigration status restrictions on disaster relief benefits, the New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) continues to call on the Mayor and Governor to make more relief assistance available to all New Yorkers.  Our colleagues at the New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) are working hard through their Unmet Needs Roundtable to make funds available to support immigrants who do not qualify because of these restrictions. In addition, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA) has taken some steps to assist organizations working with immigrants.  But more needs to be done.  We will keep you posted on future developments.

Despite the limitations on existing benefits for Sandy victims, this link will give you a list of resources that are currently available.

If you have any questions, requests, or concerns please reach out to Manny Castro at [email protected] or (212) 627-2227 x 246.

Hurricane Relief – New Employment & Grant Opportunities

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

I hope all is well. We have additional updates and opportunities for you about the city’s ongoing hurricane relief and recovery efforts.

1) MOIA’s Resource Guide

We have compiled a comprehensive and up-to-date resource guide, which provides detailed information on overnight shelters, warming centers, food distribution sites, disaster assistance application info, and important contact numbers. The most updated version is attached to this e-mail. Read here. Also, please check www.nyc.gov or call 311 for the most updated information.

2) Hurricane Clean-Up Employment Opportunities

The United States Department of Labor awarded the New York State Department of Labor grant funds to hire workers to assist in the cleanup of Hurricane Sandy. The grant will be used to help clean up impacted communities in Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland and Westchester counties. You must be unemployed prior to or as a direct result of Hurricane Sandy.

Apply here: https://labor.ny.gov/secure/neg/2012-hurricane-sandy-form.asp

3) Hurricane Relief Grants

In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, small volunteer-led groups responded quickly to meet the needs of local residents. Does your neighborhood of school group need immediate emergency funding? Citizens Committee of NYC is awarding grants to volunteer-led groups providing relief to areas hit especially hard by Hurricane Sandy. Grants of up to $5,000, Immediate notification upon application submission. Please apply here: http://www.citizensnyc.org/programs/grants/hurricane_relief_grants.html  

4) FEMA Mobile Application Registration Sites

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), in partnership with the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA), is launching mobile Application Registration Sites across New York City. FEMA will be sending trained staff out to sites for 1-2 days to guide community members through the FEMA disaster assistance application process. Disaster assistance is financial or direct assistance to individuals and families whose property has been damaged or destroyed as a result of a federally-declared disaster, and whose losses are not covered by insurance. It is meant to help with critical expenses that cannot be covered in other ways. We are seeking community-based organizations and houses of worship to host FEMA’s mobile Application Registration Sites. Please let me know if you would like to host FEMA!

5) NYC Restoration Centers

NYC Restore helps New Yorkers in the areas most affected by Hurricane Sandy get access to important information and services to help them recover. For more information, visit: http://www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/dasc.html. NYC Restoration Centers provide the following types of assistance:

  • NYC Rapid Repairs
  • Food and Nutrition Assistance
  • Temporary Housing Information
  • Health and Medical Benefits
  • Business Restoration
  • Counseling Services
  • Financial Assistance
  • Personal Records and Information

6) Volunteering/Donating

Please see www.nyc.gov/service for current opportunities:

Volunteer on an ongoing basis with New York Cares, Red Hook Initiative, NYC Coalition Against Hunger, UJA Federation, OEM, P.S. 84, St. Virgilius Church, American Legion Hall, etc. in impacted areas.

Ongoing Parks & Recreation clean ups: http://www.nycservice.org/press/view/post/142

Donate food to City Harvest, Food Bank NYC, and Met Council.

Donate materials to Salvation Army, Housing Works, and Catholic Charities.

Donate cash to www.nyc.gov/fund. 100% of donations will go to relief efforts.

If you have any more questions don’t hesitate to contact me!

Best,
Sarah

Sarah Flatto | Project Manager, One NYC One Nation | NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs
(212-341-9075 | (646-912-2496 |*[email protected] | nyc.gov/immigrants

NYS Bar Association Sets Up Legal Hotline to Assist Storm Victims

From the NYSBA website:

1-800-699-5636 Toll-free Number for Legal Questions

New Yorkers with legal problems related to Superstorm Sandy can receive free advice from volunteer lawyers through a program sponsored by the New York State Bar Association, President Seymour W. James, Jr. announced today.

“We know there will be a great need for legal assistance in the coming weeks,” said James (The Legal Aid Society in New York City). “We are grateful to attorneys who go above and beyond to serve their communities.”

Volunteer attorneys will answer storm-related questions about insurance, real estate issues (landlord-tenant and other property disputes) and general legal matters, such as replacing missing wills and other documents.

Storm victims seeking legal advice can call a toll-free hotline: 1-800-699-5636. They will receive the name and phone number of a volunteer attorney. Callers will be eligible for a free legal consultation of up to 30 minutes, either by phone or in person.

Individuals whose applications for emergency assistance are rejected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will be able to speak with an attorney about how to appeal the decision.

The Association’s Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) is coordinating the program in partnership with the American Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division. They are working closely with local bar associations, legal assistance providers, community programs and local officials in storm-battered areas of the state.

Attorneys wishing to volunteer can visit  www.nysba.org/DisasterVolunteerSandy or call 518-463-3200.