The Public Justice Advocacy Clinic (PJAC), directed by Professor Jeffrey Gutman and co-taught by Professor Holly Eaton engaged in various advocacy efforts this Spring.
Two student attorneys in PJAC, Michael DeJesus, JD ‘22, and Raychelle Eddings, JD ‘23, recently obtained a successful outcome for their client, Ms. Gold after appealing her scheduled exit from the District’s Family Re-housing Stabilization Program (FRSP) also known as the Rapid Re-housing Program. FRSP is a short term program designed to help individuals and families quickly exit homelessness and return to permanent housing.
Ms. Gold has a history of homelessness extending back over twenty years, and she suffers from multiple physical disabilities. Ms. Gold previously participated in FRSP, but fell back into homelessness after her exit from the program. She reentered FRSP, but December 2021 Ms. Gold received a Notice of Cessation of Benefits that notified her that she was again being exited from FRSP program. During her participation in the program, she failed to receive consistent services from her FRSP services provider so she came to PJAC. Ms. Gold is also a single mother to a young son with behavioral disabilities and her son’s disabilities frequently result in suspensions from school, making it difficult for Ms. Gold to maintain a regular work schedule.
The student attorney’s research revealed that Ms. Gold’s physical disabilities and her son’s behavioral disability were not documented during her involvement with FRSP and she was not properly considered for long-term supportive housing. Prior to an administrative review of Ms. Gold’s exit, the student attorneys engaged in discussions with her service provider and the Notice of Cessation of Benefits was rescinded. Ms. Gold was placed on an exit pathway for long term supportive housing benefits, and received her permanent voucher in March.