Homelessness Law Blog

In the run-up to next Thursday’s McKinney-Vento Awards, we’ll be featuring a series of posts on our honorees and distinguished guests.  Make sure you keep checking back!

At the Law Center, we like to say we’re “changing laws and changing lives.”  And we are.  In 2009, we helped pass the HEARTH Act, which increased funding for anti-homelessness programs and directed the government to develop the first ever Federal Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness.

But victories like that aren’t possible without the support of our pro bono law partners.  The Law Center employs a highly skilled, but small staff.  Pro bono assistance allows it to accomplish much more than it could on its own, supporting its work across every program area.

“Pro bono work has always been important, but since the economic crisis, it’s become more and more vital to individuals and organizations that couldn’t otherwise access services,” says Katharyn Christian, the Law Center’s new pro bono coordinator.  “It’s key to achieving our mission; we wouldn’t be able to assist or impact nearly as many homeless individuals without assistance from our pro bono partners.”

This past year, law firm Dechert LLP’s pro bono work was particularly strong.  Its attorneys addressed issues related to unaccompanied homeless youth, access to education for homeless children, and the human right to housing.  Their research and analysis will help fulcrum our advocacy in those areas.

We’ll use their work to fight for homeless children’s right to privacy and quality education, and for a recognition of housing as a human right in America.  These are big, complicated issues, but Dechert’s pro bono assistance helps us move forward in the fight to end and prevent homelessness for millions of people.

“Dechert’s been really phenomenal for us,” says Law Center Legal Director Karen Cunningham.  “They’re always looking to take on new work, and they’re willing to address urgent matters on very short notice.  It’s not just one office either.  They’ve engaged attorneys at all levels, across multiple offices.  We really couldn’t ask for a better partner.”

It should come as no surprise, then, that Dechert was ranked third in The American Lawyer’s annual pro bono rankings.  Collectively, its attorneys dedicate tens of thousands of hours to pro bono work each year.  It’s ingrained in the firm’s culture.  The Law Center looks forward to continued collaboration with Dechert toward the ultimate goal of ending American homelessness.

We hope you’ll join us when we honor Dechert LLP at our 12^th Annual McKinney-Vento Awards on Thursday, October 14, at 6 pm.  Barbara Ehrenreich, the Education Law Center of Pennsylvania, and the formerly homeless Elzer family will also be honored.  The evening’s keynote address will be delivered by U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan.

Click here for more information and to purchase your tickets.

- Andy Beres, Grant Writer & Communications Assistant

On Tuesday afternoon, lawyers from firms across Washington, DC gathered at Sidley Austin LLP for “Ending Homelessness through Pro Bono Work,” hosted by the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.

The event began with a panel discussion featuring partners from law firms who have contributed significant pro bono resources to the Law Center’s work. Suzanne Turner of Dechert LLP spoke of the firm’s work on issues relating to unaccompanied homeless youth, access to education for homeless children and youth, and the human right to housing. Peter Thomas of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP provided a detailed explanation of the firm’s work on housing provisions of the Violence Against Women Act – noting the tremendous policy impact their work with the Law Center has allowed the firm to see. And Patricia Brannan from Hogan Lovells LLP spoke about how the firms involvement with issues related to the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act and homeless persons’ access to voting have offered the firm’s attorneys opportunities for both personal and professional growth.

It was inspiring and humbling to hear of the firms’ commitment to pro bono work and to hear them, as Ms. Brannan put it, understand these projects as “heart of the mission work.” When attorneys participate in pro bono work at the Law Center, they have the opportunity to both contribute to policy change and produce materials that can “actually be used by constituents out in the community.” And, as Ms. Turner pointed out, the need for pro bono work on these issues is “greater than ever.”

During the reception following the panel, DC Bar President Ronald S. Flagg delivered a touching keynote address on the importance of the Law Center’s work and pro bono attorney involvement in the battle to end homelessness. Flagg is a true believer in the power of attorneys to effect large-scale change, and his own pro bono work is a testament to that belief. We are tremendously grateful to Mr. Flagg, and to all of our panelists, for sharing their pro bono experiences.

Last year, through the support of major law firms, the work of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty was amplified by more than $2 million worth of pro bono support, and by the financial support of its LEAP firms. This donation of time and resources helped create key policy changes and reinforced the existing laws designed to prevent and end homelessness.

To all of our supporting firms, we say a HUGE thank you. Your work is changing lives.