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 Kim Crouch at kcrouch@ncbar.org.