Wonder how serious the problem of homelessness in the District really is?

See our "Homelessness and Poverty" fact sheet!

Spotlight On: WLCH Veterans Initiative

Serving Those Who Have Served Our Country

In 2009, the Legal Clinic launched its newest project, the Veterans Initiative, with the generous support of the William S. Abell Foundation.  The Legal Clinic has entered into an exciting new collaboration through this Initiative, which will expand both the number of veterans whom the Legal Clinic is able to assist as well as the subject areas of assistance, while leveraging significant resources from our pro bono partners. 

Late last year, the Legal Clinic partnered with the Legal Aid Society of DC and the law firms of Arent Fox and McDermott Will and Emery as part of the SAILS Project (Senior Attorney Initiative for Legal Services), a joint initiative of the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program and the D.C. Access to Justice Commission. The partnership leverages the experience of senior lawyers at these firms who are interested in devoting pro bono time to representing low- and no-income veterans.  They bring to the table the resources of the firms (including associates!) to make legal assistance more widely available to those who have served in the armed forces. The project initially is focusing on Veterans benefits cases, but may expand over time to other practice areas.

Legal Aid and the Legal Clinic are also partnering with the DC Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and the Child Support Services Division of the DC Office of Attorney General to assist veterans who are homeless and have outstanding child support issues.  This effort is part of a pilot project to expand the coordination between the local branches of the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to make sure child support obligations do not continue to be a barrier to housing and employment for veterans experiencing homelessness. 

Through the Veterans Initiative, the Legal Clinic has also assisted a number of veterans in their efforts to secure or preserve affordable permanent housing, obtaining housing vouchers for some clients while preventing the unlawful evictions of others.

The Legal Clinic recently participated in Winterhaven 2011, the Veterans "stand down" held in January at the VAMC.  We have participated in several "Know Your Rights" sessions with the VA, as well.

The Obama Administration has committed to ending homelessness among US veterans, and the Legal Clinic is pleased to be part of an effort to make that commitment a reality.

For more information about this work, or to become a volunteer with this initiative, contact Legal Clinic staff attorney Andy Silver at (202) 328-5516 or andy@legalclinic.org.

Staff Attorney of the Month - Scott McNeilly

How did you first get involved with the Legal Clinic?

When I applied, I was working at a large and bureaucratic state-wide legal services program that was receiving federal funding.  The restrictions on use of the federal funds had been tightened (under the first Bush administration) in ways I thought were outrageous (no class-actions, no challenges to welfare reform, no representation of certain non-citizens, etc.)  I was looking for a small, non-government funded legal services program that was taking an aggressive approach to advocating for its clients.  The Legal Clinic completely fit the bill.

What motivates you to work for WLCH?

We have the opportunity to work along side clients with incredible, inspiring stories; my colleagues are some of the most creative and committed people I've ever met; and we have volunteers that just ooze passion - it never fails to reinvigorate me.

I've also always been interested in what it means to be a community.  What are our specific obligations to members of our community, both collectively and as individuals?  The Legal Clinic operates exactly at the point where public policy intersects with people's lives.  We get to see what works and doesn't work, we try to make the overall system function better, and best of all, we help to solve real problems for real people.  We encounter some heart wrenching circumstances, but we at least have a chance to try to do something about it, and every day involves some fascinating question (maybe not file-purging day).  Under Patty's guidance and with the incredible support we receive from our donors, we're in a position to make decisions in our cases and advocacy that are based solely on what's in the best interests of our clients.

What do you like most about your job?

First of all, I really enjoy meeting the clients, the practical problem solving I do with them and the relationships that develop. 

Beyond that, because the support we get from our donors allows the Clinic to refuse any government or other money that would restrict how we serve clients, the only limit on our advocacy is our own imagination and creativity.  This is both empowering and at times terrifying.  You'll notice, however, that in contrast to many other legal services programs, we have a very senior staff with multiple attorneys who have been with us for more than ten years, in my case over 16 years (omg!).  Ultimately, since we can do whatever we think is necessary to improve our clients' lives, why would we want to be anywhere else?

What has been most rewarding about your career at WLCH?

Although we are assertive in our public policy advocacy for our clients, we are first and foremost a provider of legal services.  We solve legal problems and provide legal advice and information.  I recently entered my 2500th individual case into our database.  As a mentor to our volunteers, I've worked on many thousands of additional individual cases.  I believe we've made a positive difference in most of those cases.  I'm confident that we've listened patiently and respectfully to all of those clients and tried our best to provide an effective legal response to their challenges.

What has been the most significant victory in the last year?

We've successfully advocated against additional cuts to the Interim Disability Assistance program and some shelter and other programming.  While this is vitally important for many DC residents with disabilities, preventing things from getting worse doesn't always feel like much of a victory. 

Our volunteers have prevailed for our clients in hundreds of matters and preserved housing subsidies, secured benefits, reversed shelter expulsions, etc.  Each and every one of those victories is significant.

It also has been rewarding to see the Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) begin to fulfill its promise.  The ICH was created as part of the Homeless Services Reform Act which the Clinic helped develop and shepherd through the legislative process.  The ICH is chaired by the City Administrator and consists of the directors of the twelve District agencies responsible in some way for delivering services to people who are homeless, and mayorally-appointed service providers, advocates and people who are homeless or who have experienced homelessness.  I'm one of the appointed advocates and chair the Executive Committee.   Initially, there was skepticism about the relevance and utility of the ICH.  Now there seems to be general consensus that any significant policy or operational change has to pass through the ICH.  Each meeting of the ICH begins and ends with a public comment session which allows people relying on our homeless services system to directly address the officials with the power to make changes.

Finally, I have a client I've known for years and helped with a variety of fairly straightforward benefits and housing issues.  She struggles with some significant mental health issues.  She often doesn't sleep well and will call my voicemail in the middle of the night, I assume just to hear my voice and confirm that we're still here for her.  I consider that a significant victory, since being present to our clients is what we're all about.  

Volunteer Victories

In each issue we will share with you some of the wonderful stories that unfold when our volunteers and staff attorneys are present to our clients as they move their lives to a better place.

� Longtime volunteer attorney Luke Reynolds of the FDIC secured a victory for a client in a very difficult and lengthy housing case.  The client, an older woman with mental and physical disabilities, had numerous problems with her landlord and eventually was sued on several grounds in Landlord and Tenant Court.  In the meantime, she was searching for a new place to live, but it took her more than 2 years to secure a subsidized housing placement.  Through his patient and persistent advocacy efforts, Luke not only managed to get the landlord-tenant matter dismissed without the client having to pay a cent, but he facilitated her move to a more suitable housing unit, as well.  Cheers to Luke and congratulations to our now happily-housed client!

� Natalie Popovic, who has volunteered with the Legal Clinic since last spring, helped a mentally ill client save her HCVP voucher from threatened termination.  The client failed to attend her D.C. Housing Authority (DCHA) recertification appointments and was in danger of losing the voucher that had kept her housing affordable for the past two years.  Through dedicated advocacy and sheer persistence, Natalie convinced DCHA to recertify the client, which secured her voucher and her housing for another year at least.  Thank you Natalie for all of your work on this important case!  We wish our client and her two children much happiness in their affordable home.

� Lena Mirilovic, a member of our volunteer roster since the beginning of 2009, was instrumental in helping a single male client remain in his shelter placement despite efforts by the shelter to terminate him.  The client had been accused of refusing to accept offers of housing.  With Lena's help, he was able to establish that those offers were not appropriate for him.  This resulted in the shelter director rescinding the termination notice right before a Fair Hearing was to be held.  Thank you, Lena, for your zealous advocacy on behalf of this vulnerable client!  Best of luck to our client in the months ahead.

You, too, can help families and individuals who are homeless regain stability in their lives.  Contact Nick Casalbore, Volunteer Coordinator, to learn about our volunteer program.  You can reach him at nick@legalclinic.org or 202-328-1263.

Home Court 24 

Mark your calendar for Home Court 24!   

This year's event will take place on Wednesday, March 30 at 7pm and will be held at the Trinity Center.  This basketball game between Georgetown law professors and U.S. Senators and Congressman is WLCH's most important fundraiser, bringing in more than one fourth of our budget every year!   

Watch highlights from Home Court 23 and read about it here!

For more information please contact the Washington Legal Clinic at 202-328-5500 or laura@legalclinic.org.

"50 for 50" Fundraising Campaign

 Jeff Schwaber, a long-time and much loved board member and fundraising chair of the Legal Clinic, is "going the extra mile" to make sure that we can be present to our clients during these challenging times.  In Jeff's words...

 "As I prepare to turn 50, in an effort to ward off any midlife depression, I have designed a fundraiser for my favorite organization, the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. I've decided to enter the South Beach (FLA) Triathlon on Sunday, April 10, 2011, and to seek your support as a sponsor, with your contributions going to the Legal Clinic.  The race is "olympic distance," meaning a 1.5k swim, 40k bike ride and 10k run.  My goal--with your help--is to finish the race in 3 hours or less and to raise $50,000 for the Legal Clinic.  Please help me celebrate my 50th by helping me raise $50,000 for this cause!  This would be the best birthday gift I've ever received."

We wish Jeff well, not only in the triathlon but as he begins his next 50 years.  We hope that your running path never takes you far from our side!  

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