When Justice Is Only Available to Those Who Can Pay
The North Carolina legislature has significantly reduced funding for civil legal aid, impacting low-income residents who rely on these services for housing and legal disputes. The article highlights the essential role these programs play in providing access to justice beyond criminal cases.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing gap in legal representation for vulnerable populations, particularly in the wake of natural disasters.
Republicans in the North Carolina legislature abruptly slashed funding for civil legal assistance for low-income clients this month.
Al Drago / Bloomberg / Getty July 23, 2026, 5:24 PM ET Share Save This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.
When Hurricane Helene hit western North Carolina in September 2024, it left behind it a trail of death and destruction—and a huge number of legal headaches. Residents struggled to understand the process of receiving help from FEMA, people were beset by scams and price gouging, and tenants whose homes had been destroyed or made uninhabitable puzzled over their rights.
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