New Orleans Title Clearing and Reform Initiative Huge Success
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services, The Pro Bono Project, Louisiana Appleseed, and the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law are grateful for the support of the Greater New Orleans Foundation (GNOF) in the implementation of the New Orleans Title Clearing and Reform Initiative. This final report details project activities implemented from April 15, 2011–June 15, 2013.
In short, the Initiative has been a huge success, clearing title for more than 740 property owners with an economic benefit exceeding $10 million. We built relationships with more than 50 organizations and educated thousands of people through outreach events; pamphlets; and billboard, radio and television ads. Through our advocacy efforts, we effected lasting, systemic change that will assist generations to come. Read the full report: GNOF Grant Final Report
The American College of Bankruptcy & The American College of Bankruptcy Foundation
In addition to the GNOF grant, The Project received a grant from the American College of Bankruptcy and its Foundation toward our efforts to work with clients needing debt relief through bankruptcy.
With the help of this grant, received in late 2012 and used throughout 2013, The Project was able to purchase a new laptop and two licenses to the Best Case bankruptcy petition preparation software for use by our volunteer attorneys and paralegals. This has greatly helped to streamline our ability to provide bankruptcy services to our clients.
We have also partnered with the New Orleans Paralegal Association. Working with their volunteer paralegals, the process of preparing and scheduling petitions has gone faster and smoother for our volunteer lawyers.
The Project has also been able to conduct additional consumer debt clinics across the metro region, as well as conduct appointment-based bankruptcy triage clinics to assess and advise applicants on bankruptcy relief.
Since receiving the grant, The Project opened 141 bankruptcy cases, of which 82 have been successfully resolved. The remainder are still active and we will continue to work on these to successful completion for our clients.
In addition, The Project also engaged area law students to develop a Consumer Handbook for publication and distribution to our clients.
Overall, this grant has made us more efficient and effective for our clients seeking bankruptcy relief and for our volunteer lawyers and paralegals.
Our thanks to the College of American Bankruptcy and the College if American Bankruptcy Foundation.