Lawyers Working to End Homelessness |
Leadership
Chair: Josephine A. McNeil
Board of Governors: Amelia Helen Boss
Homeless Courts
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Homeless Courts To learn more about homeless courts and the ABA's role in facilitating the creation of homeless courts throughout the United States, click here. |
ABA Policy Positions
Contact Us
202/638-3844 (fax)
Publications
Division for Public Services 2009 - 2010 Clerkships
The Division offers two Clerkship opportunities:
The first is a ten-week Spring/Summer Clerkship open by competition, reviewed on a rolling basis and offering students entering into their second or third year at an ABA-accredited law school the opportunity to design and complete a legal research and writing project in substantive areas of Division concern. If of acceptable quality, the Division may publish the resultant monograph. Applicants must be members of the ABA Law Student Division and may join at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/home.html.
The second is a Fall/Winter Clerkship and typically involves conducting project research and writing; developing information for directories and other databases; coordinating survey development, distribution and results; or editing manuscripts for publication. Applicants may be undergraduate or law school students depending on project need.
- NEW!! 2009-2010 Clerkship Flyer
- Shanda Moyers, a 3L at Stetson University School of Law, was the winner of the 2007-2008 PSD Clerkship. Shanda's research focused on the small segment of the long-term homeless population with the most pronounced barriers to self-sufficiency, primarily mental health and/or substance abuse issues. Her research evaluated the effectiveness of legislation and the use of the criminal justice system in combating street homelessness in comparison with the effectiveness of measures employing outreach and the Housing First model.
- 2005 Winner of the PSD Summer Internship
- Article by 2005 Winner, Dr. Andrea Blau, Mental & Physical Disability Reporter, Vol. 30, Issue 1
- Criminal Responsibility and Multiple Personality Defendants, a monograph produced by our 1997 Internship winner,
Ms. Sabra Owens.
For information about the Clerkships and how to apply, please call 202/662-1691 or email cccoleman@staff.abanet.org.
Also, see our article in the September issue of the ABA Law Student Division's Student Lawyer magazine. Visit the ABA Law Student Division at http://www.abanet.org/lsd/home.html.
Educating Homeless Students
The American Bar Association Commission on Homelessness and Poverty is pleased to announce the release of the THIRD edition of Educating Children Without Housing: A Primer on Legal Requirements and Implementation Strategies for Educators, Advocates and Policymakers.
Educating Children Without Housing: A Primer on Legal Requirements and Implementation Strategies for Educators, Advocates and Policymakers, 3rd Edition, provides innovative strategies for educators and school administrators, state coordinators and policymakers, and advocates and attorneys to play a role in ensuring the education rights of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The revised edition includes new sections on creating access to early childhood education opportunities, the Head Start Act, IDEA, the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act, financial aid and college access and support programs. This third edition contains strategies designed to assist communities to exceed compliance and move toward greater commitment -- to embody not only the letter but also the spirit of the law — including a new section on collaborating with community agencies. The book also includes a directory of resources for educators, advocates, and policymakers.
Drafted by Barbara Duffield and Patricia Julianelle of the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, and Laurene Heybach of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless, the book is the most comprehensive resource on the education of homeless children and youth available. Several State Departments of Education have praised the book for its brief, yet comprehensive, easy-to-understand format, commenting on its similarity to a “how-to handbook.” Many states have purchased the publication in bulk and distributed them to liaisons, as well as to each school district and school administrator.
Educating Children Without Housing: A Primer on Legal Requirements and Implementation Strategies for Educators, Advocates and Policymakers — a 104-page book — will be released on September 22nd and will be available for $14.95 through the ABA Web Store at http://www.abanet.org/abastore/index.cfm or by calling the ABA Service Center at 1-800-285-2221.
Discounts for bulk orders are available (e.g., purchase 5-49 books and save 10%; 50-99 and save 20%; 100-399 and save 30%; 400+ save 40%).
Runaway and Homeless Youth and the Law
The ABA Commission on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Network for Youth will release Runaway and Homeless Youth and the Law: Model State Statutes later this month.
Runaway and Homeless Youth and the Law: Model State Statutes is a unique publication that provides guidance for policymakers, advocates, attorneys and service providers on how state laws can assist homeless and runaway youth. The laws were developed by experts in the field with input provided during two national conferences. The comprehensive resource provides not only model statutes, but background information and research to provide context for each issue. Additionally, the authors have provided commentary to assist in the implementation of the law. Runaway and Homeless Youth and the Law: Model State Statutes is a necessity for any person or agency interested in improving state laws so that these vulnerable youth can find safety, services and stability.
The book will be released on September 22nd and will be available for $14.95 through the ABA Web Store at http://www.abanet.org/abastore/index.cfm or by calling the ABA Service Center at 1-800-285-2221.
Discounts for bulk orders are available (e.g., purchase 5-49 books and save 10%; 50-99 and save 20%; 100-399 and save 30%; 400+ save 40%). The book will also be posted on the ABA and NN4Y websites as a free pdf download.
Preventing Foreclosure
Through its Preventing Foreclosure Initiative, the Commission has convened a working group comprised of lawyers from diverse practice areas to develop programming and resources aimed at equipping lawyers to prevent foreclosure. Preventing Foreclosure: A Win-Win Solution for Everyone addressed the following issues: prevention strategies, defenses to foreclosure, and best practice tips; how to work with lenders to modify loans or extend the original terms; model court programs utilizing mediation strategies to prevent foreclosure; and available resources and how to avoid mortgage rescue scams.
Click here to view the program materials.
Lawyers Working to End Homelessness
The Commission released its latest publication, Lawyers Working to End Homelessness, at the 2006 ABA Annual Meeting in Honolulu in association with its 15th Anniversary. This book is a compilation of essays and articles intended to inspire and guide readers to use their legal expertise to address homelessness in their communities. Written by attorneys from all areas of practice — from law students to nationally recognized advocates for the homeless and from solo practitioners to those working at big law firms — the guide is a valuable source of thoughts, ideas, and suggestions for virtually any attorney who is interested in using his or her talents to benefit the most vulnerable population. Articles cover a broad spectrum of advocacy, from the most basic act of taking on a pro bono case to the more complex act of creating a bar committee or service program from scratch.
To order the book, please visit the ABA Web Store at http://www.abanet.org/abastore/index.cfm?section=main&fm=Product.AddToCart&pid=4180012.
John J. Curtin, Jr. Fellowship
The Curtin Fellowship Program is seeking motivated law student interns to apply for stipends available for the Summer 2009 Program. These students should have a position offered, contingent on funding, from a qualified organization. The Program will pay a $2,500 stipend to students who spend the summer months working for a bar association or legal services program designed to prevent homelessness or assist homeless or indigent clients or their advocates. For more information about the Fellowship, click here.
http://www.abanet.org/abanet/media/release/news_release.cfm?releaseid=663
Programs and Events
Preventing Foreclosure: A Win-Win Solution
for Everyone
Friday, July 31, 2009
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Chicago, Presidential CLE Centre
Chicago, IL
This Commission operates within the ABA Division of Public Services. To view the websites of other Division entities, please click here. |
