Twenty Years of Advocacy

This year marks the Law Center's 20th anniversary, and we'll be commemorating that occasion at our annual dinner on September 24th. I don't say "celebrate," because while we have so much to be proud of, we will only truly be able to celebrate when we reach our goal of ending homelessness in America.

Right now homelessness is skyrocketing across the country as the impact of the foreclosure crisis and job losses hit communities, deepening what was already a crisis. As the school year starts, more calls than ever are coming to our office as homeless schoolchildren face barriers to receiving the education that is essential to their shot at a better future.

But despite these grim realities, there is also much cause for hope. We have greater consensus now than ever before on what we need to do to end and prevent homelessness. We know that housing is essential and that income, health care, education and civil rights are crucial. We have more legal protections in place, including new federal rights for renters in foreclosure. We have a federal agency - the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness - charged with leading a national effort to end homelessness, whose Chair, Shaun Donovan, has stated his commitment to do so for all homeless people.

We have more tools, and we have more victories under our belt. We also have an important teachable moment now: The current crises in housing and in the economy make clear the crucial importance of housing - and how a job loss, a health crisis or other misfortune can lead to its loss. They make clear the devastating impact of that loss.

I think this is a critical moment to advocate to end homelessness for all Americans. I think it's the moment to advocate for a paradigm shift that recognizes housing as a human right for all. Let's take a first step by passing House Resolution 582 calling for a right to housing for all children and their families. After all, we don't want to be at this for another twenty years. Nor do our homeless brothers and sisters.

NLCHP is proud to announce the publication of its latest annual report, highlighting programs, successes, and supporters from 2008. The report is available here. A special thanks to all our donors and partners!

In 2007, NLCHP and pro bono partner, Howrey LLP, filed a lawsuit against the city of Dallas, challenging an ordinance that severely restricts locations where groups can share food, prohibiting many groups from providing food in locations where they have served homeless individuals for years. Violators face arrest and fines up to $2,000.

On August 28, 2009 U.S. District Court Judge Jorge Solis denied in part the City of Dallas' motion to dismiss claims. The court denied the City's motion to dismiss plaintiffs' claims related to free exercise of religion, equal protection, vagueness, and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act. While the court is allowing the plaintiffs to move forward with these claims, the court dismissed the plaintiffs' other claims related to freedom of speech, freedom of association, and the right to travel.

"We are very pleased with the court's decision to allow the plaintiffs to move forward with their case," said Tulin Ozdeger, NLCHP's Civil Rights Director. "Instead of penalizing groups trying to help meet the growing need in Dallas, the City should be looking toward ways to work with those who want to help."

Howrey LLP, who has a long tradition of engaging in pro bono work in the communities in which the firm works, said, "We take on the tough cases, and none has been more challenging than the Dallas foodsharing case. We are energized and encouraged to note that the Court recently denied the City's motion to dismiss with respect to our core claims, which allows us to now proceed with discovery and move forward with the case. We intend to do so toward a successful resolution."

NLCHP has published a model police order that offers suggested constructive alternatives to criminalization that city police departments can adopt, in coordination with local homelessness service providers.

Together with Georgetown University Law Center, NLCHP will host the 2009 National Forum on the Human Right to Housing. The Forum will conclude the official visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Adequate Housing, Rachel Rolnick.

During her visit to the United States, Special Rapporteur Rolnick will make visits to Los Angeles, Seattle, New Orleans, Chicago, New York, and Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The National Forum will be part of her official visit to DC, and will take place Sunday, November 8-Monday, November 9, 2009. As part of the Forum, Rachel Rolnick will host a special opening session. The Forum will be an opportunity for groups from around the United States to participate and to give testimony.

Planned workshops include: Intersectional Challenges in Access to Housing; The Human Right to Housing in Policy Advocacy; Combating Criminalization of Homelessness; Gender and Housing Rights; Service Provision from a Human Rights Perspective; Health Care, Housing and Human Rights; and Public Housing, Demolitions, and the Human Right to Development.

Please contact Tiffany Garner at the National Economic and Social Rights Initiative, tiffany@nesri.org if you want to participate in one of the city visits. Please contact Eric Tars at NLCHP, etars@nlchp.org to participate in the DC National Forum.

Updates and registration information will be available soon on our Forum website.

NLCHP's Annual McKinney-Vento Awards reception and dinner will be held at 6:30PM on Thursday, September 24, 2009 at the L'Enfant Plaza Hotel. Individual tickets are $225. Please contact Jessica Libbey at jlibbey@nlchp.org or 202-638-2535 x220, or visit our website for more information.

On Tuesday, September 22, at 2:00 p.m., Eastern Time, the National Housing Law Project (NHLP), the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty (NLCHP) will host their second Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act webinar.

This webinar, while open to all who are interested, is designed to assist the lending and servicing community.

Presenters will include representatives from:

• Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC),
• Fannie Mae,
• Freddie Mac,
• NLCHP,
• NLIHC, and
• NHLP.

The presenters will discuss the background, substance and implications of the law and how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are implementing the law. They will share their insights into the federal regulators' responses, the process of managing rental properties when existing occupants remain in properties after foreclosure, and other issues.

The Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009, signed into law on May 20, 2009, requires that all persons or entities that take title to residential property at foreclosure honor leases of existing bona fide tenants and forbids requiring such tenants to leave the properties unless the new owner has given at least 90 days notice to vacate.

To register for this webinar click here. For more information about registration, contact Mark Antonio of the National Housing Law Project at 510-251-9400 x. 3111 or mantonio@nhlp.org.

NLCHP is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contact us at (202) 638-2535 or email us at nlchp@nlchp.org

Or visit our website at http://www.nlchp.org