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EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOW, CLASS OF 2008
Name of Host Organization: Urban Justice Center
City, State: New York, New York
Issue area: Domestic Violence, Housing/Homelessness
Sponsor: AIG, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
THE INSPIRATION
Through work with domestic violence survivors, I have seen how domestic violence interacts in complicated ways with every area of a survivor's life. The National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty reported that domestic violence was the cause of homelessness for a quarter of all homeless parents in NYC. The Anti-Discrimination Center of Metro New York reports that almost half of public housing providers in NYC either refused to rent to or stigmatized victims of domestic violence. The recent passage of federal and state legislation makes this the ideal time to help those in need of shelter.
THE PROJECT
I work with the Domestic Violence Project (DVP) at the Urban Justice Center, which is committed to supporting and advocating for domestic violence survivors. In line with the DVP's holistic approach, my project will address survivors’ housing needs along with other legal issues they face. I will inform survivors of their housing rights, offer direct representation to those facing housing discrimination, and engage the community through outreach and advocacy efforts to ensure that the VAWA 2005's housing provisions and NY laws are implemented. Learn more about my project on YouTube.
BIOGRAPHY
Hometown: | Bethesda, Maryland |
Law school: | |
Making the connection: | My interest in women's rights motivated me to attend law school and my commitment to working with domestic violence survivors solidified after interning at Bay Area Legal Aid. I also participated in a clinical at Greater Boston Legal Services with clients whose status as domestic violence survivors interfered with – and sometimes precluded – their access to public housing. This furthered my understanding of the ways that domestic violence affects women's lives. I am excited to integrate my direct services experience with the advocacy skills I learned while working on Capitol Hill with the National Women's Law Center. |