As part of AJE’s mission, we frequently share information on a variety of resources and organizations that may be helpful to the families we work with. The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia is an organization that could be an excellent resource for some of our families here at AJE. 

The Legal Aid Society is DC’s largest civil legal service organization. They provide free direct legal representation in the following practice areas — housing law, domestic violence/family law, public benefits law and consumer law. In the area of housing law, the Legal Aid Society aims to preserve safe and affordable housing for DC residents and protect public housing tenants’ subsidies. While practicing domestic violence/family law, the organization assists in securing protections and custody orders for domestic violence survivors and helping clients obtain fair child support and custody for their children. The Society also practices public benefits law which aims to maximize one’s public benefits and other safety-net benefits such as unemployment assistance that they are entitled. Lastly, the Legal Aid Society does consumer law work that aims to protect clients’ assets by working to prevent foreclosure and protect some of DC’s most vulnerable residents from disparaging debt collector practices. 

The Legal Aid Society’s website provides various resources in English, Spanish and Amharic. Some of these resources include but are not limited to housing assistance, foreclosure prevention, public benefits resources and tax and stimulus information.

You can apply for help on the Legal Aid Society website or call them at (202) 628-1161.