[District of Columbia, October 28, 2024] – The DC Bar Foundation announces the release of its Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program Biannual Progress Report.
The Civil Legal Counsel Projects Program (CLCPP) is a grant program established by the Expanding Access to Justice Amendment Act enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia in July 2017. The DC Bar Foundation administers grants and, in 2023, made awards to seven legal services organizations in the District to provide legal assistance to DC residents with low incomes at risk of eviction or the loss of a housing subsidy or seeking to remedy housing conditions.
The latest report covers the period from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. Report highlights during this period include:
Cases closed per month see an increase. On average, CLCPP partners closed 374 cases per month, which is the highest average number of cases closed per month since program data collection began for CLCPP. In total, CLCPP partners served 2,028 tenants across 2,241 cases. CLCPP services reach tenants in every ward in DC, but almost all clients (49%) live in Ward 7 (19%) and Ward 8 (30%).
Increase in housing stability. CLCPP attorneys helped 424 clients stay in their homes. Of the 424 clients, 169 (40%) reported having minor children in the home, and 131 (31%) had a household member living with a disability. In total, 894 household members gained housing stability due to help received through CLCPP. To support a wraparound service approach, CLCPP providers began to staff in-house tenant support specialists who help clients connect to other legal-adjacent services, such as rental assistance, housing search help, and social services.
The Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network remains effective. More than half of the 2, 028 clients (61%) who were served during this reporting period reached a CLCPP attorney through the Landlord Tenant Legal Assistance Network (LTLAN). LTLAN is a coordinated intake and referral system that allows DC residents to get assistance with housing-related issues by calling or filling out an online intake form. It was established in 2020 by CLCPP partners.
Limited legal advice helps fill the gap. The need for CLCPP services has increased over the last several years. However, attorney capacity has not increased to meet the demand. To fill the gap, limited legal assistance allows self-represented parties to get guidance on how to respond to their housing-related legal issues. Almost half (48%) of the tenants who received help in eviction cases received legal advice and counsel. Guidance includes how to respond to an eviction complaint, minimize the financial impact of an eviction filing, and remain housed as long as possible or find new housing.
You can read the full report here.
About the DC Bar Foundation: We are committed to transforming DC's legal aid network so that all District residents have a fair and equal legal experience. Through our network approach, we actively work to bring together all invested stakeholders to identify and address the unmet civil legal needs of underserved DC residents, create solutions with a critical eye for racial justice and equity, and demonstrate meaningful impact.
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