El Paso Support
Our thoughts are with the people of El Paso in the wake of the tragedy that transpired on August 3.
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid Offers Free Legal Assistance to Low-Income Survivors
Texas RioGrande Legal Aid attorneys are available to provide free civil legal services to low-income survivors and relatives of victims of the El Paso mass shooting. Those needing help can call the TRLA disaster hotline at 833-329-8752 or go to the El Paso office at 1331 Texas Ave. from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
TRLA will help survivors and their families with:
establishing heirs and estates of the deceased in order to access benefits and bank accounts;
applying for survivor or disability benefits with the Social Security Administration;
assisting with applying for and appealing denials of unemployment benefits;
negotiating with mortgage companies and landlords requesting payments;
helping to locate and assist with the prevention of repossession of vehicles;
assisting with applying for and appealing denials of crime victims’ compensation benefits and other benefits; and
resolving problems with the enrollment of children in school because of changes in household composition.
Those who are not eligible for TRLA assistance will be referred to private attorneys who have agreed to provide assistance pro bono.
El Paso Bar Association establishes hotline
The El Paso Bar Association also launched a hotline to provide support to victims and families impacted by the tragedy.
The hotline number is 915-832-7211.
Volunteer attorneys are available to assist individuals who have been affected by the tragedy with any legal questions they may have.
El Paso Strong Resiliency Center Opens Soon
Community officials plan to open the El Paso Strong Resiliency Center soon. Watch epstrong.org for details. Anyone needing immediate support is directed to call the El Paso Crisis Hotline at 915-779-1800 in the meantime.
Relief funds established for El Paso victims
The El Paso Community Foundation and Paso Del Norte Community Foundation have established relief funds to accept monetary donations to support victims and their families affected by the August 3 tragedy.
The El Paso Community Foundation has established the El Paso Shooting Victims’ Fund and donations can be made here. The foundation will waive all administrative fees and pay all credit card fees associated with this fund.
Paso del Norte Community Foundation has started the El Paso Victims Relief Fund and is accepting donations here.
Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program Offers Mental Health Assistance for El Paso Legal Professionals
The Texas Lawyers’ Assistance Program routinely helps lawyers, judges, and law students with issues such as stress and anxiety, depression, bipolar and other mental health concerns, including suicide prevention and overall wellness. It also administers the Sheeran-Crowley Trust, which provides funding for counseling or mental health care (or treatment) for any attorney or law student in need.
If you or a colleague need assistance as a result of the tragedy in El Paso, please reach out. The service is 100 percent confidential and you can call anonymously. You can call 24/7 at 800-343-8527. Learn more at tlaphelps.org.
