New Services for BP Oil Spill Victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                            CONTACT:  Mary Dekle

DATE:  August 10, 2011                                                    (850) 701-3313

                                                                                                (850) 509-5179

                                                                                                mary@lsnf.org

New Outreach Program Funding for

BP Oil Claimants

Services provided in seven Florida Gulf Coast counties

Tallahassee, Florida – Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) is pleased to announce the receipt of a grant for $200,000 to provide outreach and legal help to low-income residents and small businesses who were affected by the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.  Franklin, Gulf, Bay, Okaloosa, Walton, Escambia, and Santa Rosa counties will be served by the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Legal Support Project (GCOSLSP) with funding through the Fund for Gulf Communities-Florida (FGCF).  Initial funding for the FGCF was provided by an anonymous donation to the Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors to enhance the resiliency of Florida’s Gulf Coast communities. 

Legal Services of North Florida has received $200,000 for the next 18 months to provide outreach and support to low-income individuals and small businesses who have either not been able to file claims or are having difficulties with the claims process.  Paralegal/Outreach workers in LSNF’s offices in Panama City, Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola will be reaching out into the Gulf Counties to communities most affected by the oil spill.  The project will utilize regional media and community groups to aid in reaching individuals and small businesses to let them know there are still recovery funds available and how to obtain free legal help with the claims process.  The Gulf Coast Oil Spill Support Project will also provide legal representation to low-income residents with a variety of other legal issues related to the oil spill.

Kris Knab, LSNF’s Executive Director was overjoyed that the Fund for Gulf Communities Gulf Communities recognizes LSNF as a leader in providing support and quality services to our most vulnerable residents. “The BP oil spill coupled with other economic stresses on north Florida families has been disastrous.  The increase in families falling into poverty has created enormous stress, threatening previously healthy family units and bringing people to their knees. LSNF can help relieve the legal issues and claims process hindering a family or small business from finding their way to a brighter future.  LSNF will be able to use these funds to reach hundreds of our neighbors through outreach, media and direct service”. 

Legal Services of North Florida (LSNF) is a private non-profit corporation dedicated to providing free legal representation to low-income people with civil legal problems from five offices in Tallahassee, Quincy, Panama City, Fort Walton Beach and Pensacola.    For information on the office location nearest you go to www.lsnf.org.

Low-income residents and small businesses may contact their local Legal Services of North Florida office for help at the following locations, or utilize the regional toll-free hotline number 1-855-299-1337.

          Pensacola Office – 118 South Baylen Street – (850) 432-8222

                   Serving Escambia and Santa Rosa counties

          Fort Walton Beach Office – 133 Staff Drive, Suite B – (850) 862-3279

                   Serving Okaloosa and Walton counties

          Panama City Office – 211 East 11^th Street – (850) 769-3581

                   Serving Bay, Gulf and Franklin counties

If your civic, business, community organization or faith group would like Legal Services of North Florida to make a presentation and/or speak with your members, please contact us at the numbers above and ask for the Gulf Coast Oil Spill Legal Support Project.

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