
Christian Piatt
Host: Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.
Sponsor: Covington & Burling LLP, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Florida has the second highest population of homeless veterans in the country, and St. Petersburg has the highest number in the state. Nearly 1,000 homeless veterans live in the Tampa Bay area, with more than half of those in St. Petersburg. Tampa Bay has two of the largest VA hospitals in the country–Bay Pines VA Healthcare System and the Haley Veterans’ Hospital. Many veterans come to this area because they know they can get medical help. A significant contributing factor to veterans living in poverty is their inability to navigate the often complex and overburdened VA system. In addition, over 50% of homeless veterans have disabilities, including PTSD, which is compensable under the VA but can be difficult to prove. Merely completing and filing a disability claim is difficult, but many veterans face additional challenges stemming from sometimes debilitating disabilities. There is a vast need throughout the country for more attorneys to help veterans with their claims, and this problem is particularly acute in the Tampa Bay area.
In the past two years, Cherilyn has:
Now that the Fellowship is complete, Cherilyn plans to:
Host: Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.
Sponsor: Covington & Burling LLP, Northrop Grumman Corporation
Host: New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
Sponsor: Greenberg Traurig, LLP, Greystone & Co., Inc.
Host: Medical-Legal Partnership for Seniors (MLPS)
Sponsor: Latham & Watkins LLP, PG&E Corporation
Host: Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Inc.
Sponsor: Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, The Anheuser-Busch Foundation