The Rising for Justice Clinic (RFJ) led by Paul DiBlasi with the oversight of David Johnson, GW’s Assistant Dean for Pro Bono & Advocacy Programs, has worked on several housing matters to help clients at risk of losing subsidized housing and working to avoid eviction. The threat of homelessness in connection with the end of Washington, DC’s COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium continues to be a concern for clients across our various Clinical Programs.
One student attorney, Zhuoma “Drolma” Gesang, JD ‘22, successfully coached a client named Patricia who was at risk of losing her subsidized housing in order to avoid eviction. Patricia received a notice stating that she had 30 days to submit documentation regarding her income information to the office in person, or she would be evicted. However, because of Patricia's medical conditions, she was unable to complete the meeting in person during the pandemic.
Through thorough investigation and legal research into relevant local statutes and federal law, Drolma talked the client through the process of requesting a reasonable accommodation for her disability to be able to complete the submission of documents remotely. As a result, the property manager granted Patricia the accommodation, and she is no longer at risk of eviction.
Drolma is also now in the middle of a trial in a nonpayment of a rent eviction case. Drolma and her student attorney co-counsel have completed two days of trial, making opening statements, cross-examining the defendant’s witnesses, and direct examining one witness. In this trial, Drolma and her co-counsel are fighting to prevent the eviction of their client and her adult daughter as well have the Court require that the landlord finally complete repairs.
Last, several student attorneys including Gabrielle Hangos, JD ‘23, Emilia McManus, JD ‘23, and Drolma Gesang, are working with a Tenant Association at an affordable housing complex as the landlord begins bringing eviction lawsuits following the end of the eviction moratorium. Many of the tenants at the building have intentionally withheld rent as part of a rent strike, while others have become behind on rent for other reasons. The student attorneys are working with the Tenant Association to document conditions and violations of the tenants’ right to organize. This month, the students are setting up a community event at the housing complex to gather more information related to these problems.