Legislate
The North Carolina state budget has provided funds for Legal Aid of North Carolina for many years. However, those funds have not increased in proportion to the increase in North Carolina’s population. North Carolina Bar Association members will join together to educate members of the North Carolina House, Senate and Executive Branch about the critical needs for funding of legal services.
The population of North Carolina is increasing most rapidly in metropolitan areas. The poverty population in rural areas is often increasing at a greater rate than are cities. Rural counties have fewer resources to support Legal Aid.
Between 2000 and 2005, United States Census data reveals significant increases in the percentage of individuals living in poverty in many areas of North Carolina, including:
| Cabarrus Co. | 35% |
| Fayetteville | 26% |
| Greensboro | 41% |
| Henderson Co. | 31% |
| Raleigh | 35% |
| Wayne Co. | 39% |
| Winston-Salem | 26% |
As a result of North Carolina’s increasing population generally as well as an increasing percentage of its population being in poverty, legal services resources are significantly strained. To join our group to urge support for LANC in the state budget by the North Carolina General Assembly, contact Doug Heron at dheron@ncbar.org.
The creation of a grass roots lobbying force to encourage adequate funding for legal services for the poor is the goal of "Legislate." Please click here to be part of this important initiative supporting legal services "4ALL" in North Carolina.
Last Update: Tuesday, January 15, 2008