HOMELESS PERSONS REPRESENTATION PROJECT, INC. __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________

Re: Sixth Annual Campaign to End Homelessness

Dear Friends and Colleagues:

We need your help to end homelessness in Maryland. We truly need your help now. I am writing to urge

you to support the Sixth Annual Campaign to End Homelessness to benefit the Homeless Persons

Representation Project (HPRP).

As a young lawyer in Baltimore in the 1980s, I volunteered for HPRP to provide free legal counseling to

homeless mothers and children at the Booth House on Calvert Street. I still remember their stories, their

struggles, their need for help, and their need for hope. We all deserve a home or apartment, a place to be

safe, a place to raise our children, a place to feel human.

I have rejoined this tremendous cause because our neighbors without housing need us now more than ever.

Homelessness in Baltimore City has not declined in 5 years and the numbers of homeless children and

youth statewide have steadily increased over the last 5 years. We must respond to these dire statistics.

HPRP, even though it is a relatively small organization, has had an extraordinary impact in improving our

communities. HPRP uses the law to help stabilize the lives of nearly 800 youth, adults and families who are

homeless or at risk of homelessness every year. With a small budget of about $900,000, HPRP leverages

the resources of over 500 volunteer lawyers, paralegals, and law students to provide legal representation.

Here is one example of the effect of HPRPs work. Rachel*, a female veteran of the US Air Force began working with HPRP when she was living in a homeless shelter. Rachel had such severe disabilities that she

had been unable to work since 2009, yet she had been denied both Social Security benefits and benefits

from the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Rachel could not afford housing without these benefits,

so HPRP stepped in and successfully won both Social Security and VA benefits for her. Rachel received

nearly $40,000 in retroactive benefits and an ongoing benefit of over $2,500 per month, well over the

average rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the Baltimore area. Today, Rachel lives in her own home.

HPRP also advocates for policy changes to end homelessness. During the 2014 Maryland General

Assembly Session, HPRP led a coalition, together with the Public Justice Center, homeless youth and other

organizations, which saw successful passage of legislation addressing youth homelessness. One bill creates

Marylands first pilot initiative to count homeless youth unaccompanied by a parent or guardian; another offers a tuition waiver to unaccompanied homeless youth, enabling them to attend public universities,

colleges and state-approved vocational programs, a critical step toward a stable, self-sufficient adulthood.

I have already made my pledge for money to help HPRP, and vow to do everything I can to raise funds to

help fight the homelessness of our neighbors. Please join us by contributing as much as you can. A

donation form is enclosed or you can donate online at www.hprplaw.org. HPRP will publicly thank donors

in The Daily Record throughout the Campaign. Forgive me in advance when we follow up this letter with

phone calls asking for your help, but homelessness requires us to be persistent, dedicated and tireless.

Your contribution will make an enormous difference for people, like Rachel, who need HPRPs services to obtain and maintain one of our most basic human needs a home. Thank you for your consideration, for caring, and for your support. I am truly grateful for the time you took to read this letter. Now, please, take

the time to donate so we may provide legal resources for the individuals, families and children of Maryland.

Sincerely,

Michael A. Brown, Esq.

Miles & Stockbridge PC

Honorary Chair, Sixth Annual Campaign to End Homelessness

Campaign Committee

Susannah Bennett, Esq. Marriott International, Inc..

Michael Goecke, Esq. Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd.

Craig B. Merkle, Esq. Goodell, Devries, Leech & Dann, LLP

David G. Sommer, Esq. Gallagher Evelius & Jones LLP

Board

Irving E. Walker, Esq. Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A. President

David E. Wolfe, Esq. Alex. Brown Realty, Inc. Vice President

Jacqueline Allen, Esq. Saul Ewing, LLP Treasurer

Kathleen McGinley, Esq. Ober/Kaler, Attorneys at Law Secretary

Shelly Marie Martin, Esq. Assistant Secretary

Erin Charles SC&H Group, Inc.

John Eidleman, Esq. Legal Services Corporation

C. Carnot Evans, III, Esq. Marriott International, Inc.

Jane Harrison Consultant

Harry Kassap, Esq. Kassap Investments

Nick King

Kent Morrison, Esq. Crowell & Moring, LLP

Russell R. Reno, Jr., Esq. Public Justice Center

Edward F. Walton, II Wilmington Trust

Arnold M. Weiner, Esq. Law Offices of Arnold M. Weiner

Executive Director

Antonia K. Fasanelli, JD**

* Affiliations for identification purposes only.

** Admitted in NY and DC only

Michael A. Brown, Esq., Miles & Stockbridge PC

Honorary Campaign Chair

201 N. Charles St., Suite 1104 Baltimore, MD 21201 410-685-6589 410-625-0361 (Fax) www.hprplaw.org