Service Spotlight: BREAD FOR THE CITY

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It’s never easy finding a good lawyer. But for struggling D.C. residents, the legal clinic at Bread for the City makes the process just a little bit easier.

With about a dozen staff attorneys, over 100 volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students, Bread for the City takes on hundreds of cases every year that focus on housing law, public benefits, and family law.

“The bulk of our legal service goes to housing issues: preemptive foreclosures, repairs, defending rights,” said Greg Bloom, a development associate in communications at Bread for the City. “[We’re] engaged in housing advocacy on the regular.” Other cases address problems with Medicaid, Social Security or other benefits, difficulties with landlords or child care.

A recent expansion tripled capacity for medical patients, opened a food pantry service for Northeast D.C. residents and brought on other programs and projects. The legal service sector reached new heights, with the family law practice growing.

“The child support project is the new part,” said Bloom. There are three lawyers employed under the
family law section to address issues regarding protection from domestic violence, divorce and child
custody.

Bread for the City opened more than 200 legal cases last year, according to their website. The clinic’s clients receive full representation throughout their cases. None is turned away from getting professional legal advice, however not every case is taken on.The D.C. Employment Justice Center holds walk-in legal clinics at Bread for the City’s Northwest (1525 Seventh Street, NW ) and Southeast Centers (1640 Good Hope Road, SE) on Wednesday evenings.


Issues |Political commentary


Region |Northeast|Washington DC

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