On Monday, July 14, the D.C. Council will take its first vote on our local budget and many legal changes that will impact the lives of D.C. residents. As we discussed here, the mayor’s budget proposal was regressive and harmful, hardly befitting a city where the vast majority of residents support progressive and humane economic and social policies. The Council has already reversed some of these harmful proposals, but when it comes to responding...
Reflections on the Rule of Law and the Role of the Lawyer
Lately, the “rule of law” has been in the news, prompting many of us to think more critically about the law’s role in our democracy, as well as a lawyer’s role in preserving the rule of law. On May 1, many of us at the Legal Clinic attended the DC Law Day rally at the Supreme Court organized by Lawyers for Good Government. It was a great rally, with inspirational speakers, creative signs, and hundreds of lawyers reciting their oath of office....
Supreme Court Debates Rights of Unhoused and Unsheltered People
Providing housing instead of handcuffs is not only the moral, effective, and humane choice, but also the Constitutional one.
On National Homeless Persons’ Remembrance Day and Every Day, D.C. Must Do More to Save Lives
The Legal Clinic will stand with our friends at the People for Fairness Coalition this week at the 11th Annual Memorial and Vigil to commemorate those lives lost. We will continue to stand with our unhoused clients every single day to demand that the D.C. government prioritize the lives and needs of people by ensuring that everyone in D.C. has access to safe, accessible shelter and housing.
2023 Funding & Reform Priorities
It’s budget season again, and the Legal Clinic continues to advocate for budgets and laws that further housing justice for D.C. residents. Along with our Fair Budget Coalition and Way Home Campaign partners*, we implore D.C. to “Meet the Needs” of all D.C. residents—particularly those who struggle the most to maintain their lives in the city. Recent housing investments and legislation during the height of the pandemic were crucial to minimize...
The Migrant Services and Supports Emergency Act of 2022: A Poisoned Apple
Immigrants of all countries of origins, languages, and incomes should be welcomed and supported as new residents. We reject any assertion that immigrants are in competition with long-time DC residents for resources, as DC has sufficient resources to meet the needs of all who come here. Similarly, we reject the scarcity mindset that leads to pitting these populations against each other.
