New Mexico Legal Aid is proud to introduce its newly grant-funded Mobile Intake and Outreach Vehicle, a groundbreaking initiative designed to bring critical legal assistance directly to communities impacted by natural disasters and those in remote areas. This mobile legal office enhances NMLA’s ability to respond swiftly to crises, ensuring that vulnerable individuals and families receive the legal support they need to recover and rebuild.
Built through a Legal Services Corporation (LSC) Disaster Supplemental Grant, the 23-foot-long mobile unit is fully equipped with workstations, internet access, and essential resources for on-the-ground legal consultations, intake screenings, and know-your-rights outreach. The vehicle will travel across New Mexico, providing in-person legal assistance to disaster survivors, helping them navigate FEMA and insurance claims, housing and employment issues, and public benefits applications.
Samuel Hitchcock, Disaster Relief Project Manager at NMLA, emphasized the transformative impact of this new resource: "When disaster strikes, access to legal help is often a critical—but overlooked—part of recovery. With this mobile unit, we can meet people where they are, ensuring that no one is left behind in the aftermath of a crisis."
Beyond disaster response, the mobile office will improve access to justice by expanding NMLA’s outreach and education efforts. The unit will collaborate with local partners, distribute vital legal information, and strengthen community resilience by making legal resources more accessible to those in need.
"This vehicle is more than just a mode of transportation—it’s a symbol of NMLA’s commitment to ensuring that every New Mexican, no matter how remote their location, has access to quality legal assistance," Hitchcock added.
As NMLA continues its mission to provide free civil legal services to low-income communities, the Mobile Intake and Outreach Vehicle marks a significant step forward in disaster legal aid and equitable access to justice.
