Law firm creates manual to help displaced hurricane victims.

Understanding Mississippi's Homeowner Assistance Grant Program has just gotten easier thanks to a team of attorneys from Nixon Peabody LLP and the Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ), the Jackson-and Biloxi-based nonprofit, public interest law firm.

Together, they have produced a new manual and website, already in use, that gives detailed explanations of the homeowner grant program and its appeals process.

The Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ) recently approached Nixon Peabody for assistance in assembling materials to help Mississippi homeowners, and the volunteer attorneys aiding them, with appeals under the State's Homeowner Assistance Grant Program.

A team of attorneys from Nixon Peabody quickly created a manual about the housing grant program, pro bono, which means its services were offered for free. The manual can also be used to help volunteer attorneys determine if a homeowner is eligible for a grant. The manual is now available for use at free legal clinics that the MCJ is holding in Biloxi, Bay St. Louis, Gautier and Gulfport.

Jeffrey W. Sacks, a partner in Nixon Peabody's Affordable Housing practice, stated, "Our commitment to assist the Mississippi Center for Justice and the volunteer lawyers working with its organization is just one of many steps Nixon Peabody is taking to help with the rebuilding and housing revitalization effort along the Gulf Coast."

Karen Lash, national pro bono coordinator for the Mississippi Center for Justice, said, "There has been widespread confusion regarding the grant program and the rules have changed many times. Our staff attorneys receive questions about the program daily from residents trying to navigate the system.

"Thanks to the efforts of Nixon Peabody, our lawyers have an important reference tool--and volunteer attorneys can be quickly trained to help handle the swelling number of residents' concerns about the program, their award amount and appeal rights.

"We express our deepest thanks to Nixon Peabody for making this process easier for Katrina survivors, and the volunteers who help them."

Since Hurricane Katrina, Nixon Peabody has been integrally involved with national efforts to educate community leaders, lawmakers and real estate officials on housing and redevelopment activities along the Gulf Coast.

Nixon Peabody agreed to help subsidize a Katrina Legal Fellow, which enables a lawyer to be on-the-ground in Mississippi to offer legal services as part of the Gulf Coast rebuilding effort. It was through the sponsorship of a Katrina Legal Fellow that Nixon Peabody became introduced to the MCJ.

In October 2005, Nixon Peabody participated in the IPED's first conference addressing housing issues and housing the displaced after Hurricane Katrina.

This March, the firm is participating in IPED's second conference for owners, developers, lenders and others in the housing finance community who are seeking to invest in the Gulf Coast Zone or to understand a variety of federal funding services that can be used for redevelopment activities.

The conference, "Rebuilding Communities After Hurricane Katrina--Affordable Housing and Economic Development on the Gulf Coast," takes place March 29-30, 2007 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The Honorable Brent Warr, Mayor of Gulfport, MI, is one of the speakers confirmed to attend.

For more information about this conference visit, www.ipedinc.net.

For more information on the Gulf Coast housing and rebuilding efforts being led by Nixon Peabody, contact Andrea Goodman at [e-mail], 617-345-1381, or Allison McClain at amcclain@ nixonpeabody.com, 617-345-1128.