Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless

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.[1] The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless has been instrumental in preserving city funding for homeless services,[2] housing, public benefits, domestic violence, individual rights and health.[3]

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
AbbreviationWLCH
Formation1985
Typenon-profit organization
Purposeprovide pro bono legal services
Location

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.[4]

The Clinic hosts and participates in several major fundraisers each year including Lawyers Pitch In,[5] and Home Court.[6]

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."[7] In 1986, the organization became the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.[8]


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.[9]

References
  1. "Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless | Catalogue for Philanthropy - Greater Washington". catalogueforphilanthropy-dc.org. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
  2. "Protest Over Budget Cuts To Be Held This Morning - City Desk". washingtoncitypaper.com. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
  3. "Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Washington, DC - Justia Legal Aid & Services Directory". lawyers.justia.com. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
  4. "The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless, Inc. - Washington, DC - Overview of volunteer & donation opportunities, services, mission, contact information on GreatNonprofits". greatnonprofits.org. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
  5. http://www.steinsperling.com/firm.asp
  6. "23rd Annual "Home Court" Congressional Basketball Game - The Washington Scene - TheHill.com". Archived from the original on 2010-03-28. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
  7. ABA Journal. American Bar Association. February 1957. p. 19. ISSN 0747-0088. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
  8. "Georgetown Law Faculty and Congressmen Compete to Help Homeless". Archived from the original on 2008-06-11. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
  9. "Mary Ann Luby, nun who advocated for the homeless, dies at 70". washingtonpost.com. Retrieved 2015-05-14.
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