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Hypothermia Hotline:
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The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless envisions a just and inclusive community for all residents of the District of Columbia, where housing is a human right and where every individual and family has equal access to the resources they need to thrive.
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Dear Friends,
As we turn our calendars to 2014, we open up to a year of great promise and possibility.
Later this month, the Legal Clinic is co-sponsoring, along with Fair Budget Coalition and other community allies, a "Service to Justice" Conference. This is a sequel to a conference we organized ten years ago, the result of which was more service provider organizations in DC embracing the responsibility to not just do vital works of charity, but to advocate for justice, as well. Our goal in the 2014 conference is the same. We hope to continue to change the landscape in the District of Columbia, forging an even stronger movement dedicated to building a community where housing is a human right and all residents have access to the resources they need to thrive. You can learn more about the Service to Justice Conference in the "Odds and Ends" section below.
We are also excited to be a partner in The Way Home: Ending Chronic Homelessness in DC. The Way Home is a campaign working towards eliminating chronic homelessness in the nation's capital by 2017, by expanding the availability of Housing First permanent supportive housing for those who are most vulnerable on the streets and in shelter. The Campaign believes that the District of Columbia has the resources, creativity and ability to do this! Housing those who are chronically homeless - those who struggle with significant issues like mental illness and chronic health conditions - is a vital step in our greater efforts to end homelessness in our community. Please join us at the Campaign's launch event on January 29th; details are found in this newsletter below.
We may see changes in the political landscape this year, both here in DC and across the country. For our DC-based friends and allies, the mayoral and council primaries in April and the general election in November present the opportunity to elect officials who are committed to advancing an agenda of justice and inclusion, who will support more opportunities for our low income neighbors to move out of poverty and who believe that affordable housing is a vital foundation for doing so. No matter where you live, remember, "we, the people" are the true political leaders; let's use our power of the vote to assure that our elected officials embrace the values we hold dear.
2014...a year of promise and possibility. We look forward to working with you in the year ahead to assure that the year - and we - live up to the tremendous potential that the next twelve months hold.
Warmly,
Patty Mullahy Fugere
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Campaign to End Chronic Homelessness
DC Coalition aspires to end chronic homelessness by 2017
How can the District ensure that chronic homelessness is eradicated within the next three years? A newly-formed coalition of service providers, grassroots advocacy groups (including the Legal Clinic) and other community members claims that the key -- literally and figuratively -- is Housing First. Under this low-barrier model of permanent supportive housing, the nearly 1,800 individuals who have been homeless in DC for an extended period of time or on multiple occasions, often suffering from mental and physical health issues, would be offered permanent housing with supportive services. This approach has been proven highly effective and far less costly than providing the emergency care chronically homeless individuals frequently access when they are living on the street. With safe and affordable housing, a person can successfully address health, mental health, substance abuse, and other goals.
The Campaign will kick off with an event on January 29th. Residents of permanent supportive housing, national advocates and others will speak about the effectiveness of the Housing First model and call on all segments of the community - government, business, faith, non-profits and individual residents - to join the campaign. The event will take place from 6:30 - 8:00 PM at National City Christian Church (5 Thomas Circle, NW), just before the District holds its annual Point in Time count of homeless persons residing in Washington, DC.
Those hoping to learn more about the Campaign can register to attend the kick-off event. Interested in adding your voice to this call to end chronic homelessness? Sign the pledge and help our homeless neighbors find the way home.
DC Housing Authority
Practice Tips for Volunteers: Files and Utilities Changes
If you have a client who is in public housing or who has an HCVP voucher through DCHA, or who has an issue with the waiting list for DCHA, all file requests should go through the General Counsel's office (535-2835). If you are having trouble getting a response or locating the client's file, you can contact the General Counsel, Beverly Wilbourn, at bwilbourn@dchousing.org.
Also, for HCVP Voucher holders, DCHA is piloting a program under which it will issue Utility Allowances (money issued each month to help pay utilities for HCVP families who are responsible for their own utility bills) in the form of a Debit card rather than a check. The debit cards can only be used to pay local utility companies. DCHA plans to begin rolling out this new program on March 1, 2014.
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Odds and Ends
"Service to Justice" Conference
The Legal Clinic, Fair Budget Coalition, and a number of our advocacy partners are hosting a two day conference that will address the challenges of providing daily services while contributing to greater systemic change -- how, in other words, to move from simply helping people survive to working toward long-term change, so that DC residents can thrive. Service providers, community advocates, and organizers especially are encouraged to attend. The conference will take place from 9 am - 4 pm on January 24 - 25, 2014. More information can be found by following this link.
Earned Income Tax Credit
Between January 28 and April 15, the DC Earned Income Tax Credit Campaign staffs free tax help sites for low-income workers throughout the District. Volunteers at these sites assist workers with filing their taxes and claiming the credits to which they're entitled. Details on who is eligible for this service, the location of the sites, and the hours of operation can be found on the DC EITC Campaign website.
Minimum Wage & Sick Days
On December 17, the DC Council unanimously passed legislation that will raise the minimum wage and provide paid sick days to tipped restaurant workers after 90 days of employment. The first of three incremental wage increases will take effect in July, raising the minimum to $9.50 per hour. Another dollar will be added in July 2015 and again in July 2016, ultimately bringing DC's minimum wage to $11.50 per hour.
Although the minimum wage may appear to have little to do with housing justice on the surface, low wages are often at the core of housing instability for District residents. This legislation is a step in the right direction for many of our clients -- the "working poor" -- who are being priced out of the market due to low wages and escalating housing costs. For more information, check out our blog (linked below).
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What's Happening on the Web
Blog Highlights
DC Just Passed Great Minimum Wage and Paid Sick Days Bill
(December 18) The Employment Justice Center lays out exactly what the new bill entails.
In Memorium
(December 20) The Legal Clinic and others in the DC community remember our homeless neighbors who passed away while living outside in 2013.
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Volunteer News
Client Victories
Through his diligence and skill, McDermott Will & Emery volunteer David Diaz recently won an important victory for his client in her quest for housing. Dave first met the client almost a year ago, when she came to intake seeking help to reinstate her Housing Choice Voucher, which had been terminated in 2008. After Dave attempted to seek a good cause hearing regarding her voucher termination, the client serendipitously was notified by DCHA that she had come to the top of the public housing wait list. Dave helped her complete the necessary paperwork, only to learn that she had missed her first placement interview. He successfully advocated for the interview to be rescheduled. When an emergency prevented the client from attending her second interview, Dave again went to bat and convinced DCHA to allow her one last chance. With Dave in attendance, the client successfully completed the interview and is scheduled to view her new apartment this week. Thanks, Dave - without your persistent advocacy, this life-changing outcome for your client would not have been possible! |
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New Volunteer Training
January 30, 2014
11:45 AM - 4:00 PM
Wiley Rein (1776 K Street, NW)
Do you have colleagues interested in working with homeless or low-income clients, honing legal skills in new areas of practice, and delving more deeply into client cases? Are you yourself looking to become more involved with the Legal Clinic as a volunteer attorney? Join the Legal Clinic for its next New Volunteer Training! Questions? Contact the Legal Clinic's volunteer coordinator at kaitlyn.uhl@legalclinic.org or 202-328-1263.
Mental Health 101
Join Catherine Crum, Executive Director at Miriam's Kitchen, for fellowship and discussion about case handling for clients with mental health diagnoses. The event will take place in late February, details TBA.
To RSVP for either event above, please contact the Legal Clinic's volunteer coordinator at kaitlyn.uhl@legalclinic.org or (202) 328-1263. |
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New Legal Clinic Website Launches
The Legal Clinic is pleased to announce the launch of our re-vamped website and blog. You'll still find us at www.legalclinic.org, but when you visit, you'll see a new design and expanded content. We hope the site will provide you with all the information that you seek about issues related to homelessness, and that it will inspire you to add your voice to the call for greater justice in our community. Check back regularly for new content. For instance, in upcoming weeks, we will add an improved volunteers section with helpful resources for case handling.
Our blog "... With Housing and Justice for All" will now be hosted on our website so if you are currently reading the blog from your Wordpress Reader you will need to re-subscribe to receive email notifications of new posts. Current email subscribers will be transferred to the new blog.
Our deepest thanks to volunteer Steve Goering who designed our original website and who for more than a decade generously gave of his time to respond to our frequent calls for new postings and revisions.
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Home Court is just around the corner!
Home Court, the annual basketball game pitting Members of Congress (the Hill's Angels) against administration and faculty of Georgetown University Law Center (the Hoya Lawyas) is the Legal Clinic's most important fundraising event. The Georgetown University Law Center (GULC) student leaders are working with Congress to pin down the game date, which will be in early Spring. This is an event that has something for everyone, even if you're not a basketball aficianado. There is a host of fun activities leading up to the game, as well as a silent auction that features tickets to sporting events, get-aways, restaurant certificates and so much more. Check out the Home Court website (www.homecourtdc.org) for the latest information.
Workplace Campaigns
The Legal Clinic would not be able to carry on its work were it not for the generosity of our donors who provide financial support for our operations.
Workplace Campaigns are a way for you to easily give to your favorite charity through payroll deduction. The Legal Clinic is a member of the United Way (designate # 8472) and the Combined Federal Campaign (designate #82572). We are also proud to be part of the World Bank's Community Connections Campaign (designate The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless).
Please consider designating us in one of these campaigns or in your own workplace campaign.
Please call us at 202-328-5500 or visit us at our donate page on our website to discover additional ways you can financially support our work.
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Want to learn more? Join us online!
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