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Access to Justice grantees tell council legal aid demand remains high, call for sustained funding
Summary
Nonprofit legal providers told the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety that demand for civil legal services has remained high since the pandemic and that Access to Justice Initiative funding is essential to prevent evictions, preserve housing and help residents retain benefits.
Access to Justice Initiative grantees told the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety on Jan. 29 that civil legal services demand in Washington, D.C., has not subsided since the pandemic and that continued funding through the Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants (OVSJG) is needed to keep low‑income residents housed and connected to benefits.
Speakers from the D.C. Access to Justice Commission, DC Bar Foundation, Legal Aid, Legal Counsel for the Elderly and others described programs funded through the initiative that aim to prevent evictions, assist tenants and homeowners, provide family‑law representation and support probate and benefits work for seniors and caregivers.
Witnesses said early FY24 data and recent program reports show increased caseloads and positive client outcomes. The DC Bar Foundation said its Civil Legal Counsel Projects partners closed 2,241 cases from January through June 2024, a 30 percent increase from the same period in 2023, and that represented tenants retained possession in roughly 76–81 percent of…
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