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Advocacy at CHRJ

Housing Justice Project –- CHRJ PILA Grant

Hurricane Katrina Relief Project -- Urgent Actions

Housing Justice Project

CHRJ helps recruit student volunteers for the King County Housing Justice Project. The Housing Justice Project (HJP) is a homelessness prevention program providing accessible, volunteer-based legal services to low-income tenants facing eviction in King County. Legal services may take the form of counsel and advice, negotiated settlements, representation at Show Cause hearings, and/or referrals depending on tenants’ needs and financial eligibility. HJP is managed by Community Legal Services at the King County Bar Association with co-sponsorship from Northwest Justice Project, Legal Action Center, the Tenants Union, and Solid Ground (formerly Fremont Public Association).

At HJP, volunteer legal assistants open and close the project’s courthouse office, conduct client intakes, distribute community resources to clients, and provide administrative support to volunteer attorneys. They are critical to the flow of service at both project sites. Prior legal knowledge is not required. To begin volunteering, legal assistants must either attend a live training (offered twice per year) or make arrangements to complete training with the program coordinator. The first 3 or 4 shifts at HJP are considered training; new legal assistants are paired with the coordinator or an experienced HJP legal assistant volunteer. Legal assistants are asked to make a once per week six-month commitment.

Volunteering at HJP is a great opportunity to make a valuable contribution to the community and learn new skills. In the way of making a difference in the community, the efforts of HJP volunteers result in the dismissal of unjust eviction cases, negotiation of reasonable settlements for renters facing difficulties in a tight housing market, and education of tenants regarding their rights and responsibilities under the law. If you are interested in volunteering for the HJP, please email us with “Housing Justice Project” in the subject line.