Every client that Legal Aid helps is unique, but together the cases underscore the common challenges and systemic issues that make DC’s legal system more unjust and inequitable for low-income residents, and particularly Black and brown Washingtonians. The Systemic Advocacy & Law Reform team works to address these larger issues through policy recommendations and advocacy, affirmative litigation and appeals, and community outreach to make sure that fewer people face these challenges in the first place. 

Social Programs at Risk

DC’s social safety net was put under new strain this year through a budget cycle made much more challenging by federal action and interference. Legal Aid’s policy advocacy took on added urgency to fight for funding for critical programs that help our client community with basic human needs, from food to health insurance. Ultimately, the budget fell far short of what DC residents deserve; but the Council reversed several cuts proposed by the mayor, including the Access to Justice Initiative, which funds legal services.

In a win for low-income families, the DC Council also approved a change to the District’s child support system. Legal Aid DC and the DC Office of the Attorney General have worked with the DC Council to get a larger share of child support to DC children. Currently, the DC government garnishes child support payments if the custodial parent receives government assistance, capping the amount that can be “passed through” to the family at $150 per month. As of October 1, that pass-through amount increased to $200, and we’re continuing to advocate for a 100% pass-through for low-income families.

Legal Aid has also strongly advocated for the protection of the DC Health Care Alliance Program, which is set to be completely eliminated by 2027. There is still a challenging road ahead to restore health coverage for DC residents who are ineligible for Medicaid. But Legal Aid’s advocacy helped blunt some of the most harmful cuts and gave patients more time to enroll in the Alliance program or renew their coverage.  

We also took action this year to defend a program critical to ensuring services for low-income people across the country: Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Legal Aid joined a broad coalition of cities, labor unions, and nonprofits in suing the Department of Education for changes to PSLF that would have a chilling effect on the entire public interest sector.

Immigrants’ Rights

In the face of ramped up immigration enforcement, Legal Aid took action against unlawful and discriminatory tactics. As amicus curiae, we supported the DC Office of the Attorney General in challenging the administration’s deployment of the National Guard. As of late November, that case is under appeal after a judge ruled that the deployment was likely illegal. We also joined several other legal services providers in filing an amicus brief in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU against the widespread use of warrantless arrests, which have resulted in the detention of several clients. A federal judge temporarily halted this unlawful practice in a December ruling.

Safe and Affordable Housing

Legal Aid’s Impact Litigation team stepped in to represent clients navigating complex housing issues whose cases could have a wide-reaching impact on their neighbors and entire communities.  

In the Ivy City community in Northeast DC, Legal Aid filed a lawsuit on behalf of a homeowner against the chemical plant located next door that has severely affected the health of her family for years through unchecked pollution. Nearby in NoMa, we represented the Equal Rights Center in bringing a lawsuit against the developers and owners of an apartment complex for discriminating against applicants with housing vouchers.

And after apartment units around the District lost running water due to landlords’ unpaid utility bills, Legal Aid represented five tenants in filing lawsuits and worked with the DC Council to introduce legislation to systematically address the issue.

We also continued our advocacy on behalf of tenants at the Marbury Plaza apartment complex, where residents have been fighting for justice after enduring years of unlivable housing conditions. In January, Housing Staff Attorney Kate Shea argued in front of the DC Court of Appeals as amicus in the District’s action against the property’s previous owner, arguing in favor of a court decision to reduce tenants’ rent after the landlord neglected to make repairs to the building. The Court of Appeals ultimately affirmed the contempt order and sanctions against the landlord.