The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless (also known as WLCH or The Legal Clinic) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization providing pro bono legal services to those in the District affected by lack of housing and other housing issues. In 2009, the organization was voted "one of the best small charities in the Washington, DC region" by the Catalogue for Philanthropy. The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless has been instrumental in preserving city funding for homeless services, housing, public benefits, domestic violence, individual rights and health.
Operations
The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless is located in the True Reformer Building at 1200 U Street NW in the heart of Washington, D.C.'s U Street Corridor. At the core of the Legal Clinic's work is the Legal Assistance Project, which provides pro bono representation of individual low and no-income clients through a network of over 200 volunteer attorneys and legal assistants. Volunteers obtain clients on a referral basis or at one of seven intake sites run by the Legal Clinic at meal programs, health clinics and day programs throughout the District.
Additional programs of the Legal Clinic include:
- Affordable Housing Initiative, which works to prevent homelessness by representing tenants with low and no-income who live in buildings threatened by gentrification, foreclosure, loss of subsidy, poor conditions or illegal sale or conversion to condominiums
- David M. Booth Disability Rights Initiative, which assures the accessibility of local shelters and housing programs to people with physical and/or mental health disabilities
- Permanent Supportive Housing Initiative, which works to move the District's local shelter system from one rooted in large emergency shelters to one that instead provides housing and wrap-around services to both individuals and families
- Veterans Initiative, which helps homeless veterans overcome the multiple barriers in their efforts to secure permanent housing.
The Clinic hosts and participates in several major fundraisers each year including Lawyers Pitch In, and Home Court.
History
The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless began its efforts to fight homelessness in 1985 as an undertaking of the D.C. Bar, and was originally titled "Ad Hoc Committee for the Homeless." In 1986 the organization became the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.
Literary connection
The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless is referenced in John Grisham's 1998 legal thriller The Street Lawyer. Grisham research for the book involved spending some time consulting with staff at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.
Major court cases
Pearson v. Kelly (C.A. No. 92-14030 S.C. Super. Ct.) â€" Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless worked with the Neighborhood Legal Services Program and the law firm of Covington & Burling to bring this action on behalf of applicants for public housing in the District of Columbia. Judge Steffen Graae ultimately appointed David Gilmore as Receiver of the DC Housing Authority to bring the agency into compliance with federal housing laws and regulations. Significant improvements in agency operations resulted.
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless vs. Kelly (107 F.3d 32 (D.C. Cir. 1997) â€" The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless was represented by the law firm of Howrey & Simon in a suit against the D.C. Government for the government's failure to comply with proper shelter intake procedures and in regards to providing shelter benefits to homeless families. D.C. received federal funding to provide these services and was found not in compliance with the laws governing that funding. Rather than change its practices, the government of D.C. eventually pulled out of the federal program. The case ultimately upheld the Legal Clinic's right to have a presence in the waiting room where families apply for shelter.
Staff
The Legal Clinic staff consists of Patty Mullahy Fugere, the Executive Director; about seven staff attorneys, and a grassroots advocacy coordinator.
Mary Ann Luby, a nun, served as outreach worker at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless for 15 years. Prior to joining the Clinic, she served as the first director of the privately run Rachael's Women's Center. She died in 2010 at the age of 70.
References
External links
- Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless