DCist/WAMU: Proposed D.C. Budget Cuts To Legal Services Are A ‘Calamity,’ Local Orgs Say

DCist reporter Jenny Gathright writes about proposed budget cuts to the Access to Justice initiative — which funds various legal service programs, resources and crucial lawyers who represent clients in need.

She includes comments from last week’s Office of Victim Services and Grants hearing, which includes testimony from a number of legal service partners in DC.

Judith Sandalow, Executive Director of the Children’s Law Center, recently testified before the D.C. Council that their legal work advocating for children living in unsafe housing keeps kids out of the emergency room. And she says this actually saves money in costs to Medicaid — to the tune of about $10,000 in the first 18 months of their average housing conditions case.

Photo Credit: Martin Austermuhle/DCist/WAMU