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Legal service providers say Access to Justice grants are critical as demand for eviction defense and civil legal aid grows
Summary
Nonprofit legal services, interpreter banks and eviction-prevention networks told the Committee on the Judiciary and Public Safety that the Access to Justice Initiative and OVSJG funding have expanded representation for low‑income residents while demand for housing, family‑law and probate services continues to rise.
Legal aid organizations, bar associations and language‑access providers told the Jan. 29 oversight hearing that funding from the Access to Justice Initiative (administered through OVSJG and the D.C. Bar Foundation) remains central to preventing evictions, preserving housing and keeping low‑income families stable.
Nancy Drain, executive director of the D.C. Access to Justice Commission, introduced the initiative and its three components: Access to Justice Grants, the Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program and the D.C. Poverty Lawyers Loan Repayment Program. ‘‘This program furthers your holistic view of public safety. It is essential to the district,’’ Drain told the committee.
Araceli Gray, director of programs at the D.C.…
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