2015 ANNUAL REP OR T

EXPANDING OUR REACH

2015 ANNUAL REPORT: EXPANDING OUR REACH / 1

DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE

In January, 2015, NLSP’s Board of Directors approved a 5-year Strategic Plan. The Plan reaffirms our mission to eliminate barriers to overcoming poverty and to secure justice for DC’s most underserved. Following systematic “community listen-ing,” research, and discussions among staff, Board members, and community stakeholders, we established key “Strategic Directions”: (1) to deepen our existing housing, family, benefits, and barriers to employment practices; (2) to develop capacity to address problems associated with consumer debt and transpor-tation; (3) to provide services that contribute to the economic development of underserved communities; and (4) to strengthen our advocacy, infrastructure and administration.

We move into 2016 focused on reducing housing insecurity, fos-tering stable employment, and preserving income and assets for our clients. Through our neighborhood offices, presence in DC library branches, and legal education workshops coupled with mobile intake at many community locations, we bring our services to those who would otherwise be unlikely to reach us on their own. We continue to build our community presence so that when faced with injustice, unfairness or threats to oppor-tunity, underserved District residents will turn to NLSP as their on-the-ground problem-solving partner.

Our work remains urgent. DC has one of the highest levels of income inequality in the nation. Households in the lowest 20% of DC’s population had annual incomes of slightly under $10,000; a mere fraction of the cost of living for families. Access to legal assistance gives those who have been left behind a real chance to overcome barriers to stability and forge a pathway out of poverty. NLSP, its staff and its Board, are fiercely committed to that noble mission. We look forward to increasing our impact as we move forward in 2016 and beyond.

HANNAH LIEBERMAN, NLSP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

LEFT: Intake Specialist Sandy Arce, Credit: Ndidi Obasi

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ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• WE SECURED ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR OUR “BARRIERS TO EMPLOYMENT” PROJECT. The project provides more low-income residents with pathways to sustained employment by eliminating barriers caused by criminal records, poor credit, improper inclusion on abuse and neglect registries, threatened loss of driver’s licenses, and excessive child support arrearages. We are holding employers accountable when they make inquiries into applicants’ criminal records that violate DC’s Ban the Box law.

• NEW FUNDING FROM FRIENDS OF THE LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION allowed us to hire a Litigation & Advocacy Director, deepening our ability to conduct hard-hitting litigation and other strategic advocacy.

• NLSP’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SERVED ON THE CIVIL JUSTICE IMPROVEMENTS COMMITTEE of the Conference of Chief Justices, which was tasked with developing recommendations for improving state court procedures. She led a sub-committee whose extensive recommendations regarding needed improvements in high volume courts such as consumer debt, small claims, and landlord-tenant were incorporated into a forthcoming report.

2015 CASE AREA BREAKDOWN

Consumer3%

Barriers to Employment8%

Family40%

Health/Income Maintenance14%

Housing30%

Wills and Advance Directives/Other5%

1,287total cases handled by NLSP in 2015 with 14.5 staff attorneys and pro bono volunteers

2,539persons served in all households

Includes 1457 adults and 1082 children

800+people attended community workshops & presentations

285people served through Small Claims Resource Center in DC Superior Court

• NLSP RECOVERED OVER $118,000 IN BENEFITS for clients and helped them avoid $146,000 in fees, payments, and rent abatements.

• IN JULY 2015, WE SECURED A $120,000 JUDGMENT in a case against a landlord who preyed on low-income, disabled veterans.

• IN JUNE 2015, WE LAUNCHED THE VETERANS LEGAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT with funding from the William S. Abell Foundation. Since its inception, the project has reached hundreds of low-income and homeless veterans through intensive community outreach, education, and legal assistance. NLSP has served over 100 new veteran clients in the areas of housing, family, employment, veterans’ benefits and discharge upgrades.

• IN OCTOBER 2015, WE RECEIVED A COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT GRANT from the DC Bar Foundation to start a pilot project to preserve homeownership in the Ward 7 Deanwood neighborhood.

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GETTING REPAIRS MADE

Ms. M’s case is an illustrative example of a substandard housing case. She lived in an apartment that violated numerous housing codes. She did not have heat for two months over the winter, hot water was intermittent, and there was a mouse infestation. Then the water heater broke and water started leaking into Ms. M’s unit. Her ceiling burst twice. The landlord refused to make repairs and tried to evict her. An NLSP housing attorney helped Ms. M get the eviction case dismissed and negotiated a settlement which included relief from 6 months of back rent and repairs.

NEW HOMEOWNERSHIP PRESERVATION PROJECT

In October 2015, NLSP received a DC Bar Foundation grant from the Justice Department’s settlement with Bank of America for a community development project to protect homeownership and home equity for Ward 7 residents. The project will educate and provide representation to low income homeowners to preserve the equity in their homes. The proj-ect will assist homeowners to combat predatory or negligent home repair schemes, access governmental repair-sup-port programs, clear clouds on title, and resolve lien, tax, incorrect utility charges and other problems that may threaten ownership or the value of the home.

PRESERVING SAFE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING

Finding and keeping safe and affordable housing contin-ues to be the most serious and difficult problem facing low-income DC residents.

NLSP lawyers work tirelessly to address the many housing issues low-income residents face. We represent tenants to secure improvements to substandard housing condi-tions, and to prevent illegal eviction or the loss of critical subsidies. We help residents who are in danger of being displaced by redevelopment and gentrification and per-sons who need reasonable accommodations for disabili-ties. A new community eco-nomic development proj-ect is designed to help low income homeowners stay in their homes as neighbor-hoods change.

Examples of housing conditions in cases

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When left unresolved, family conflicts can escalate into violence and cause serious emotional or physical harm to children. Imbalances between parents can cause the less powerful, or unrepresented parent, to lose critical support, assets or even custody.

Our family law practice protects custodial parents from losing their children, seeks appropriate connections with their children for non-custodial mothers and fathers and ensures that child support levels are consistent with parents’ ability to pay. We keep children safe with family members and out of the foster care sys-tem through our multi-dimensional Family Preservation Project.

A FRESH START

Ms. P came to NLSP seeking a divorce from her hus-band, custody of her two daughters and child sup-port. Her husband hit her and verbally abused her, intentionally crashed into her car and locked her out of their home when he was angry. She had applied for protective orders in the past but, lacking a lawyer, she lost. After hundreds of hours in and out of court, NLSP helped Ms. P win an absolute divorce, physical and legal custody of her children, significant child support, and a fair distribution of martial property. Ms. P and her daughters are now safe and stable.

STABILIZING FRAGILE FAMILIES

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RECOVERING UNPAID WAGES

Ms. A was trying to get back on her feet. Homeless, she and her child were living in a shelter, but she had found employment. Her new employer, however, only paid her intermittently. It took NLSP filing a lawsuit on Ms. A’s behalf to con-vince the employer to pay her fully. The wages gave Ms. A a pathway to sustained stability.

SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT

Ms. K worked in child care for many years when she suddenly lost her job. Her employer told her that the termination was based on a 15 year old citation for child neglect. When NLSP lawyers investigated, we found that the citation was based on her now-adult daughter’s absence from school due to illness. Although Ms. K had given the school records of the illness, a school official had reported her for “educational neglect.” Ms. K had never been notified of the report and had not had an opportunity to con-test it. NLSP helped Ms. K clear her record, enabling her to resume her work in child care. Her daughter is currently enrolled in college classes.

BAN THE BOX

In late 2014, DC passed a “Ban the Box” law that required most employers to wait until the offer stage to do crimi-nal background checks. NLSP did extensive outreach to educate jobseekers about their rights under the new law and is holding employers who are not following the law accountable.

LAWYERS FOR JOBSEEKERS

Legal issues often stand in the way of getting or keep-ing a good job. An incorrect credit report, a decades old criminal record, the loss of a professional or driver’s license can all be real barri-ers to stable employment.

Legal issues can erode eco-nomic stability for low-in-come workers as well. Low wage workers sometimes struggle to get the wages they have earned from their employers.

A core strategic focus of NLSP’s work is to identify and eliminate barriers to employment facing low-in-come DC residents. We reach jobseekers in the com-munity through partnerships with adult education centers, job training programs, the DC Public Library, and other social service providers.

NLSP outreach at DC Public Library and Mary’s Center, Credit: Heather Hodges

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Programs like food stamps (SNAP), TANF, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are lifelines for poor families and individuals with disabilities. When vulnerable families lose subsistence benefits, they may lose housing, healthcare and adequate food.

NLSP assists clients with appeals when their benefits are erroneously denied or cut, preserving the remnants of a fragile safety net.

HEALTHY AT HOME

Home health care services through Medicaid enable Ms. S, who is severely disabled, to live independently and cover her daily needs. When those services were abruptly terminated, Ms. S lost her health aide and was unable to get dressed, cook, wash her hair or clothes, or get to doctor’s appointments. Her health deteriorated, she was hospitalized and faced place-ment in a nursing home.

NLSP took the case to an administrative hearing and the judge reinstated her benefits. NLSP made sure that the full array of services were restored; now Ms. S is healthy and living in her own home.

PROTECTING ESSENTIAL BENEFITS FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE

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SUCCESSES IN THE FIRST YEAR

The VLAP reached hundreds through discharge upgrade clinics with the DC Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Stand Downs, and other targeted outreach events. We trained pro bono attorneys to take veterans cases.

Since its inception, the VLAP, other NLSP attorneys and our pro bono partners represented over 100 veterans in veterans’ benefits, discharge upgrades, and housing, employment and family cases. Demand continues to grow.

PRO BONO ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS

MR. C

Mr. C is a severely disabled veteran. His disability benefit is his only source of income. When the VA notified him that it intended to recoup benefits that it had “overpaid,” he knew he wouldn’t be able to afford food, housing, and medicine. VLAP pro bono attorneys intervened. They substantially reduced the garnishment, leaving money in Mr. C’s pocket while they continue to fight for restoration of his full benefits.

MR. E

Mr. E asked his employer for a calmer work space because his work environment was exacerbating his PTSD. His request was denied and he was placed on administrative leave. A pro bono attorney helped to save his job, negotiate reasonable accommo-dations to his work environment and remove neg-ative reports from his employment record.

ASSISTANCE FOR VETERANS: SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED

Despite their extraordinary sacrifices, over 11% of veter-ans in Washington DC live in poverty. Many are homeless. Service-related disabilities, including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Traumatic Brain Injury, Military Sexual Trauma, and mental illness can prevent them from keeping safe and affordable housing, accessing health-care, connecting with their children or getting a job. A less than honorable dis-charge can also exclude them from needed services.

Many of these obstacles to personal and economic security have legal dimen-sions. In July 2015, NLSP launched the Veterans Legal Assistance Project (VLAP) with a collaborative of legal services providers and law firms to secure fundamental needs for vulnerable, low-in-come veterans.

Veterans Legal Assistance Project at Stand Down event, Credit: DC Mayor’s Office of Veterans Affairs

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Melissa Reinberg Florence Roisman John Ryabik Jeannine Sanford Susan Schapiro Paula Scott Richard Slattery Maria Soto Laura Stack Patricia Stasco Chad Tang Michael Tankersley Monika Varma Martin Wald Joanne Waters Thomas W. White and Elizabeth W. Ehinger

Sandra Willis Dorothy Wilson

2015 FOUNDATIONS AND GRANTORS DC Bar Foundation Access to Justice Public Grant Program

DC Bar Foundation Bank of America Foreclosure Prevention and Community Redevelopment Grants

DC Bar Foundation Interest on Lawyers’ Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Private Grant Program

DC Child & Family Services Agency

DC City FundDC Public Library Institute of Museum and Library Services

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation

Friends of Legal Services Corporation

Legal Services Corporation

Ludwig Family Foundation

Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

William S. Abell Foundation

2015 COVINGTON LOANED ASSOCIATES AND PARALEGALSAlex Aaronson, Esq. Eli Best, Esq.Harvey JessupMeena Harris, Esq.Chris Nofal, Esq.Lily Rudy, Esq.Hunter Williams

2015 PRO BONO VOLUNTEERSNatalia Adnan, Esq.Amy Alston Arnold & Porter LLPRuxandra Barbulescu, Esq.

Louise Betts, Esq.Barrett Bles Joey Bowers, Esq.Gene Bulmesh, Esq.Crowell & Moring LLPCovington & Burling LLPJeng Die, Esq.Duane Morris LLPJustus Getty, Esq.Laurie Goon, Esq.Anika Gzifa, Esq.Eric Heinle, Esq.C.J. Hobbs Alicia Holden, Esq.Joanne Johnson, Esq.Tamara Jones Deona Kalala, Esq.David Karasik, Esq.Ken Keane, Esq.Kristina Caggiano Kelly, Esq.

Sheldon Klein, Esq.Deborah Levine, Esq.Robyn Lipton, Esq.Nan McKenzie, Esq.Ndidi Obasi Paul Hastings LLPChris Radcliff, Esq.Erika Roberts Brian Rohal, Esq.Elizabeth Sanger, Esq.Katie Shen, Esq.Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Sidley Austin LLPOndine Sinsheimer, Esq.Kristi Smith, Esq.Richard Waddington, Esq.Thompson Coburn LLPTim Weston, Esq.Takatoshi Yanagisawa, Esq.

2015 INTERNS AND FELLOWSErika Asbell Jon Bressler Emily Brown Rhonesha Buford Traja Cajuto Guan-Wei Chao Stephanie Damon-Moore Sousan Diraz Shakera Grant Shana Lamchaik Hagen Emily Hutson Ada Lacevil Olunfumi Ladiende Calvin Lee Chien-Yu Lu Adam MarshallAmber Orr Abolore Oshodi Gavette Richardson Sidni Rouse Rita Sono–Spring Jessika Wang Lindsey White Shana Wynn, Esq.

NLSP has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this listing for gifts given and time volunteered between January 1 and December 31, 2015. If we have made an error or an omission, please accept our apology and contact us at 202-269-5101 so that we may correct our records.

$50,000 & ABOVECovington & Burling LLP Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP

$25,000 TO $49,999 William and Theresa Perlstein

$10,000 TO $24,999 Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Arnold & Porter LLP Blake Biles and Laura Sessums

BNY Mellon Corporation Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP

Lanier Apartments Tenants Association

Bingham B Leverich and Louize E. Zubrow

$5,000 TO $9,999 Arent Fox LLPWilliam Greaney

$2,500 TO $4,999 Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP

Alan Pemberton Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

$1,000 TO $2,499 Cecily Baskir and John Freedman

Allison Binney Caplin & Drysdale, Chartered

Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC

Crowell & Moring LLP

Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell LLP

K&L Gates LLP Hannah and Steve Lieberman

Amy Neuhardt Jack H. Olender Foundation

Stephen J. Pollak Paul Smith Steptoe & Johnson LLP Paul J. and Chandler Minter Taglibue

Joyce Payne Yette

$500 TO $999 Susan Bennet & John Eidelman

Laurie B. Davis and Joseph M. Sellers

Chinh Le and Vanita Gupta

Wendy Schaetzel Lesko Deborah Levine Mark H. Lynch Sara B. Rearden Steuart H. Thomsen University of the District of Columbia Law School Foundation

Tom Williamson

UP TO $499 Nikolas Ajagu Sheila Albright Dwight Ausbrooks Sandra Bellew Hope Brown Michael Carrier Joel Cohn Karen Newton Cole Diane Cornell Lynn Cunningham Tureana Dash

Barbara Dean Rashann Duvall Holly Eaton Peter Edelman Ellen Epstein John M. Ferren Blake Fetrow Anne M. Ford Alfonso J. Gonzalez Adrian Gottshall Alix Gould-Werth Kathi Grasso Iris McCollum Green Eugene D. Gulland Anna Haac Johnny Howard Dalton Howard Chandria Jackson Saunders

Rachel Molly Joseph Wilhelm Joseph Matthew Krauss Zenobia Lai Margaret Leonard Neil I. Levy and Linda E. Perle

Lawrence E. and Bridget B. Lipscomb

Jeffrey Little David Marshall Jack McKay Daniel J. Michelson Horowitz

Daniel Mosteller Darrell Mottley Faith Mullen Robin Murphy John M. Nannes and Carole T. Nannes

Tom Nurmi John Oberdorfer Eloise Pasachoff Monica Player Aaron Polkey

OUR PARTNERS, FRIENDS, & DONORS

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2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dwight L. Ausbrooks, Sr. Community Member

Blake A. Biles, Esq.Arnold & Porter LLP

Allison C. Binney, Esq.Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, LLP

Janie Boyd Community Member

Anne M. Ford Nurse

Al J. Gonzalez, Esq.Attorney at Law

Iris McCollum Green, Esq. Green & Foushee

Johnny M. Howard, Esq.Houston & Howard

Eric HumesCommunity Member

Dr. Jimmie C. Jackson Retired Educator

Bingham B. Leverich, Esq. Covington & Burling LLP

William J. Perlstein, Esq. Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale & Dorr, LLP

Sara B. Rearden, Esq.Attorney at Law

Paula D. Scott, Esq. Attorney at Law

Dorothy M. Wilson Community Member

2015 NLSP ADVISORY COUNCIL

C. Hope Brown, Esq. Law Office of C. Hope Brown, Chtd.

Vanita Saleema Snow, Esq.UDC David A. Clarke School of Law

Amadou Kilkenny Diaw, Esq.RuyakCherian LLP

Steven J. Pollak, Esq.Goodwin Procter LLP

Susan Schapiro, Esq.

Paul J. Tagliabue, Esq.Covington & Burling LLP

Dr. Sandra Willis

Joyce Payne Yette, Esq.Promontory Financial Group

2015 STAFF LIST

Sandy Arce

Angie Bailey

Jennifer Caballero, Esq.

Daniel Choi, Esq.

Elizabeth Da Victoria Lobo, Esq.

Andrea De La Torre

Ashley Graham- Watanabe, Esq.

Robert Green, Esq.

Adrian Gottshall, Esq.

Shaina Hagen, Esq.

Heather Hodges, Esq.

Sarah Hutson

Harmony Loube Jones, Esq.

Hannah E. M. Lieberman, Esq.

Burth Lopez, Esq.

Simone Marshall-Campbell

Jerra Mitchell

Heather Molina, Esq.

Leah Quaile, Esq.

Valerie M. Scott

Maya Sheppard, Esq.

Keeshea Turner Roberts, Esq.

Bradford Voegeli, Esq.

Elizabeth Vogel, Esq.

Nakia Waggoner, Esq.

Alicia Wimbish, Esq.

Note: Includes all staff who worked at NLSP for all or part of 2015

FINANCIALSREVENUES

Legal Services Corporation $754,494.00

DC Bar Foundation–Public Grant (Polk Street Office)

$324,000.00

DC Bar Foundation–Public Grant (Brief Services Unit)

$78,333.33

DC Bar Foundation Private Grants $22,500.00

DC Bar Foundation–Bank of America

$21,000.00

DC Child & Family Services Agency $250,000.00

Westwood Fellowship $100,000.00

DC City Fund $76,500.00

William S. Abell Foundation $50,000.00

Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation

$25,000.00

Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation

$20,000.00

DC Public Library–IMLS $15,000.00

Ludwig Family Foundation $10,000.00

Women's Bar Association Foundation

$3,333.33

Individual & Business Contributions

$243,333.71

Other Income $12,625.63

Total Revenue $2,006,120.00

EXPENSES

PROGRAM SERVICES

Legal Assistance $1,620,084

SUPPORTING SERVICES

Management and Administration $185,217.00

Fundraising Expenses $73,438.00

Total Expenses $1,878,739

Program Services– Legal Assistance$1,620,084 | 86%

Management and Administration$185,217.00 | 10%

Fundraising Expenses$73,438.00 | 4%

OUR LEADERSHIP

Legal Services Corporation$754,494.00 | 38%

DC Bar Foundation (Public and Private grants)$445,833.33 | 22%

Other DC Grants/ Contracts$341,500.00 | 17%

Foundation Grants$108,333 | 5%

Westwood Fellowship$100,000.00 | 5%

Private Contributions$243,333.71 | 12%

Other Income $12,625.63 | 1%

EXPENSES

REVENUES

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