Unhoused Initiative Helps Launch Advocacy Practice
Through a grant from Destination: Home SV, SCU’s Unhoused Initiative and the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center launched the Unhoused Advocacy practice in August. Designed to respond to the increasing criminalization of homelessness, this new direct legal services project assists clients with legal matters stemming from their current or previous experience of homelessness, including property claims after encampment sweeps, infraction and citation defense, court fines and fees, and vehicle towing matters. During fall semester, law students will staff advice clinics every other Monday afternoon. Newly hired Supervising Attorney, Brie Mendoza, oversees student work, represents clients directly, and provides community outreach and education. Public Health Capstone students will contribute to the UA's work this fall by assisting with property claims. We look forward to adding an undergraduate ELSJ course to support the clinic in the near future, as well.
The UI will announce our third round of Faculty Research Grants later in fall quarter. Grants provide up to $4,000 for community-partnered research projects focused on the homelessness crisis. For more information about the Unhoused Initiative, or other current funded projects, please visit the UI's website. For questions about the upcoming RFP, please email Marlene Bennett, Unhoused Initiative Project Director, at mbennett@scu.edu.