Legal aid for homeless families and individuals

The Law Project represents about 200 clients a year, three-fourths of them homeless students and youth.

Working with CCH community organizers, the CCH Law Project runs regular outreach to family, youth and adult shelters,

making presentations to residents and staff.

At shelter visits, the Law Project distributes brochures and other information about the legal rights of families and

children. Clients also can reach the Law Project's three attorneys through a toll-free telephone helpline,

1 (800) 940-1119.

As part of its enrollment outreach, the Law Project attends community back-to-school fairs in Chicago and the suburbs.

The Law Project also provides information about educational rights in a variety of settings, such as libraries, schools, soup

kitchens, stores and other locations that serve homeless and at-risk families.

Since 2009, the Law Project has partnered with JPMorgan Chase Bank to run a summer outreach program in Chicago's West Side

Austin neighborhood.

Youth attorney Beth Cunningham runs a mobile legal aid clinic for homeless and unaccompanied youth. The Youth Futures

clinic conducts weekly outreach through school and street programs, including the Center on Halsted

and Teen Living Programs. Since 2005, the youth attorney has worked with The Night Ministry to run a

weekly drop-in program for street youth. It meets every Tuesday evening at the Broadway Youth Center.

In 2007, Law Project staff helped launch an outreach program called HELP (Homeless Experiencing Legal

Protection). The HELP project was initiated by U.S. District Court Judge Jay Zainey of New Orleans. Judge Zainey already established

HELP projects in New Orleans and several other cities. On a rotating monthly

schedule, 10 Chicago law firms send attorney volunteers to run legal aid clinics

at REST Shelter and Deborah's Place.

Resources:

Chicago Coalition for the Homeless