American Bar Association
Commission on Homelessness and Poverty
Products and Publications

Representing the Poor and Homeless: Innovations in Advocacy

The Commission on Homelessness and Poverty’s latest publication is a compilation of articles written by law professors and advocates that address a range of issues including: the causes of homelessness as well as solutions, affordable housing, human rights, welfare, and microenterprise development. This informative book includes interesting articles, as well as useful directories of publications and websites addressing homelessness and poverty.

NIMBY A Primer for Lawyers and Advocates

The publication suggests how lawyers and advocates can work with the community to resolve concerns regarding traffic, neighborhood appearance, safety and property values, and provides an overview of legal weapons that can be used to overcome NIMBY attitudes and exclusionary zoning ordinances if legal action is required. It also outlines strategies lawyers can use to work effectively with the community to address these issues.

A Legal Guide to Microenterprise Development: Battling Poverty Through Self-Employment

Addresses microenterprise and seeks to offer guidance to lawyers who volunteer to represent microentrepreneurs and microenterprise development organizations that facilitate the development of these small businesses. The aspects covered in this manual include: how lawyers can get involved in microenterprise; guidelines on legal formation issues and business issues for microbusinesses; setting up microenterprise programs; information on organizations that support microenterprise and assistance provided by federal agencies. The manual also includes a workbook containing sample loan documents and other resources. The author of the manual is Susan R. Jones, a Professor of Clinical Law and the Director of the Small Business Clinic at The George Washington University Law School. The cost is $25.00 ($20.00 for the manual/workbook and $ 5.00 for shipping/handling).

Advocates for Housing

A four-hour video training program and manual building on Lawyering to House the Homeless, with greater emphasis on the creation of permanent housing. $70 for tapes.

Choosing the Right Bank - An Investment in Your Community

A handbook on the Community Reinvestment Bank for attorneys, bankers, community groups and organizations on the responsibilities of financial institutions to low-income and minority communities. $10.

America's Children at Risk

Written by a working group representing over a dozen ABA entities, including the Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, outlining a legal agenda for children, primarily those in poverty. $10.

Resource Guide to State and Local Bar Association and Law School Homeless Programs

The Commission on Homelessness and Poverty publishes a Resource Guide to State and Local Bar Association and Law School Homeless Programs. It gives information on over 50 legal projects around the country serving homeless and very poor clients. Each description contains a brief history of the program, material it makes available to other groups, and the point of contact with telephone and fax numbers. Projects range from those focused on low-income housing development and creation of other economic projects for poor people to those which link lawyers and law students to individual clients with problems such as employment discrimination, denial of government benefits, delinquent child support, among others. The resource guide is published annually, and costs $10, postage and handling included.

For more information, call 202/662-1694