Testimony: Expanding Access to Justice Act of 2016
Executive Director Judith Sandalow testified before the DC Council’s Committee on the Judiciary regarding the “Expanding Access to Justice Act of 2016.” The bill would establish a right to counsel in civil cases for those who meet low-income criteria whenever fundamental human needs are at risk and would require the DC Bar Foundation to adopt policies and procedures, issue requests for proposals, and make grants to designated legal services providers for the purpose of creating civil right to counsel projects.
In her testimony, Judith expressed support for the bill, which would allow legal service providers to represent low-income resident facing eviction, housing code violations, termination from a rental housing subsidy program, increases in rent controlled units, and homeless shelter proceedings. Her testimony focused on the positive impact that improved housing quality and housing stability has on the health and development of children.
Click below to read her full testimony.