Annual Report 2008 April23

8/14/2019 Annual Report 2008 April23

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Homeless Persons rePresentation Project, inc.

annual rePort 2008july 1, 2007 - june 30, 2008

Workingto end

Homelessnessin maryland


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2 Homeless Persons rePresentation Project, inc. annual rePort 2008

President

Yoanna X. Moisides, Esq.University of Baltimore School of Law*

TreasurerIrving Walker, Esq.Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Foreman &Leonard, P.A.

Secretary

Steve HillSEIU

Levern BlackmonPublic Justice Center

John Eidleman, Esq.Legal Services CorporationDaniel Hatcher, Esq.University of Baltimore School of Law

Robert Rhudy, Esq.*Afliations for identication purposes only

staff

Boardof directors

fiscal year 2008mission

To eliminate, ameliorate and

prevent homelessness in

Maryland.

Staff and volunteers of the

Homeless Persons Representation

Project, Inc. (HPRP) pursue thismission by sending lawyers to those

places where homeless and low-in-

come people live, eat and seek ser-

vices, such as shelters, soup kitchensand welfare ofces, to provide direct

representation in legal disputes.Broader-based, systemic advocacy is

derived from this outreach, which is

accomplished through the work of asmall group of attorneys on staff and

a larger panel of volunteer pro bono

attorneys.

In Baltimore City, where

HPRP focuses themajority of its resources,

over 3,000 people arehomeless at any given

point in time.

Executive DirectorAntonia Fasanelli, Esq.*Managing AttorneyCarolyn Johnson, Esq.Director ofPro Bono ProgramsAmelia Lazarus, Esq.Staff AttorneysLinda Kennedy, Esq. (1964-2007)Francine K. Hahn, Esq.Administrative AssistantSelena Santos

Ofce AdministratorMary C. Bakel

*Admitted in NY and DC; Special authori-

zation in MD pursuant to Court of Appeals

Rule 15


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Homeless Persons rePresentation Project, inc. annual rePort 2008

Dear Friends:

Ending homelessness. This goal is the foundation of our work at the HomelessPersons Representation Project, Inc. (HPRP) and our overriding mission as weprovide free legal services to people who are homeless or at risk ofhomelessness.

This year was a year of hope for ending homelessness in Maryland, as well as ayear during which the tragedies of homelessness became even more apparent.In January 2008, Baltimore City issued its Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness,

which included provisions to increase housing opportunities for chronicallyhomeless individuals and families, enhance employment opportunities andexpand access to health care. This plan came at a critical time as the percent-age of people remaining homeless for more than three years increased from15% to 24% of the homeless population in Baltimore City between 2005 and2007, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development reporteda 10% increase in homelessness in Maryland between 2006 and 2007 beforethe foreclosure crisis took its full effect.

HPRP is prepared to respond to these needs. During scal year 2008 (July 1,2007 June 30, 2008), HPRP staff repositioned its services and directed itsresources to legal issues that helped our neighbors obtain or maintainhousing. We received extensive input from our client community living atBaltimore Citys Emergency Winter Shelter in March 2008 and learned thatHPRPs legal assistance, and the manner in which it is providedby meetingclients where they live and spend time, such as in shelters, soup kitchens, andcommunity-based organizationsis as necessary now as it was over twentyyears ago when HPRP was founded.

Within this report, you will read about some of these new initiatives, including:theVeterans Benets Project, the only project in Maryland dedicated to

representing homeless veterans in claims for service-connected and pensionbenets; the Housing First Assistance Project, HPRPs commitment toadvocating for chronically homeless individuals and families to receive housingand supportive services consistent with Baltimore Citys Ten-Year Plan to EndHomelessness; and the reinvigorated Volunteer Program.We have launchedthese projects as we continue to provide legal advice and representation inareas to ensure public benets, access and preserve subsidized housing andeliminate barriers to employment imposed by criminal records.

We are grateful for all you have done to support HPRPwhether as a donor,volunteer, or friend. Thank you for joining us in our mission to endhomelessness in Maryland.

Sincerely,

Antonia K. Fasanelli Yoanna X. Moisides

Executive Director Board President

A Message From Our Leaders


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Mark BacharaNikki BehreSandy Benzer

Michelle BernsteinKevin BestBryan A. BishopDarcy BissetRichard BloomLarry BlosserRichard Boucher

Jack BovairdNicole BoykinAmy Branning

Sandy BrantleyAnne Brennon

Justin BrowneRobert CainYum Yu Cheng

Jonathan ClaiborneRachel CohenCarol CooperCurtis CooperCelia Davis

Maura DemouyHeather DlhopolskyDenese DominguezBarry DumserMelinda DunmireDonna Engle

Jack Evans

Kim EvansTim Fisher

Jakisha Frierson

Tom GerahtyThomas GlanniniMatthew GreenLeza GrifthConstance M. HareBrian HarveyMary Ellen HimesBarbara HolmesCarol HoshallNoah Isserman

Mary KeatingBruce KentMichael KerstenHolly KnepperRonna Lazarus

Jeanette LeeKaren LevianPaul MackRichard MartelMartina Gillis Massey

Frances F. MayJerome T. MayJim MayhewLori MayorgaSamantha MazoRobert McDonald

Jim McFaul

Alexander McMullenEileen MeierStephen Miles

Christina MilnorAravind MuthukrishnanCarrie NazelrodSam NikoomaneshMatt PaavolaMichael Pate

Jim RosnerJoy Wengel-SakamotoRalph SapiaTeresa Schmiedler

Kristen SchrockMark ScurtiMichelle Siri

John SmolenNevitt SteeleBobbie SteyerDonald StoneKathleen Trinward

Jack TurnbullEmily Vaias

Irving WalkerCarolyn WhiteShereen WingoMeghan YanacekBrian YoungMarla Zide

HPRPVolunteers

HPRP could not have touched the lives of so many individuals this

year without its talented and dedicated volunteer lawyers,

paralegals, law students and others. In 2008, volunteers donated

over 252 hours of work valued at over $138,000.

enHancedVolunteer ProgrammingIn 2008, HPRP established the Director of Pro Bono Programs as a full-time

position and created aVolunteer Advisory Committee to advise theDirector of Pro Bono Programs on the expansion of the volunteer program,the development of volunteer trainings and improved communications withvolunteers. Committee members Denese Dominguez, Sam Nikoomanesh,Donald Stone, Ralph Sapia and Bobbie Steyer established relationshipswith representatives from the University of Baltimore and the Universityof Maryland Schools of Law, the Pro Bono Resource Center and with ProBono Counsel and Coordinators at law rms to discuss and expandvolunteer opportunities.


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Consumer/Finance -2%

Employment(Expungement) - 75%Family - 2%

Health - 1%

Housing - 9%

Income Maintenance - 10%

Other - 1%

Case and Program Highlights

HPRP opened 713 cases, an increase of 67 cases from the previ-ous year, and closed 782 cases. HPRP also received 564 hotlinecalls where brief advice, information or a referral was given.

POLICY/ADVOCACYHPRP, in coalition with community partners, obtained passage of legislationexpanding Marylands expungement law to permit expungement of convictionsfor nuisance crimes, such as sleeping on a park bench or public urination. Assuch convictions have a disproportionate impact on persons who are homeless,this legislation eliminates a signicant barrier to housing and employment for

thousands of persons.

HOUSING FIRST PROGRAMAs part of its 10-Year Plan toEnd Homelessness, BaltimoreCity committed to creating a

housing program for chroni-cally homeless persons, calledHousing First, which pro-vides housing as-of-right whilesupplying voluntary supportiveservices. In December 2007,Baltimore City began enroll-ing persons into this program,using rental vouchers supplied

by the Housing Authority ofBaltimore City to pay all or aportion of market rent. Somepersons, however, were deniedhousing vouchers because ofcriminal records. HPRP hasengaged in advocacy to ensurethat the Citys Housing Firstprogram is truly a no-barrier

housing program and providedlegal representation to personsdenied vouchers.

VETERANS BENEFITS PROJECTIn June 2008, with a mini-grant awarded by the Pro Bono Resource Center,HPRP launched the only project in the state of Maryland dedicated to usinglegal services to reduce homelessness among veterans. The project seeks toleverage the resources of its small staff to meet the legal needs of homelessveterans in Baltimore City by training volunteer attorneys in veteransbenets matters, including disability compensation and pension benets.

Brief Advice, Info & Referral -15%

Counseling - 17%

Negotiations - 4%

Representation - JudicialLitigation - 59%

Representation - AdministrativeProceeding - 5%

case By tyPe

leVelof serVice


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Friends CirCle (Upto $99)AnonymousStanley and Linda BaldwinAustin Bartolomei-HillLaura Bartolomei-HillKaren and Dana CzapanskiyMary Denise DavisStefanie DavisLena EarlyAntonia K. FasanelliHarry and Mary Ellen FoxTheresa Grochowsky

Daniel HatcherCarrie HayterJohn A. HillS. F. Hill

Jane HongDeborah JankaNick JohnsonMichelle KellyYoanna MoisidesBen Saul

Joanna Shoffner ScottLawrence ShulmanScott ShumakerDarlene WakeeldPat and Robert WelchAmy Elizabeth West

AdvoCAte CirCle ($100-$249)Anonymous

JoAnn Frick BakerChris Clayton and Paul BaumannLevern Blackmon

Jenifer Cromwell and Brian ReedBruce CurtisDana DeLorenzo and Michael Osborne

Florence D. FasanelliHerbert S. GartenBrian and Stefanie GreerMike HillRobert RhudyAngie RodgersTillman & Sapia, P. C.

exeCUtive CirCle$250- $499Dale E. Gorsuch

$500- $999

Steve HillIrving Walker

$1,000 And UpThe Abell FoundationSusan Bennett

Jane DiefenbachJohn EidlemanMaryland Legal Services CorporationPro Bono Resource Center

The Jean and Sidney Silber Foundation

Honoring Our Donors

FinAnCiAl HigHligHts

Total Income: $636,865

Foundations -

$ 252,500Grants -

$ 365,359Contributions -

$ 9,101Program Services -

$ 6,000Interest & Other -

$ 3,905

Total Expenses: $453,982

Program Services -

$ 373,581

Fundraising -

$ 15,524

Management &

General - $ 64,877


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In Memory ofLinda Kennedy, Esq.

I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate what you did for me. You have

opened up many new opportunities for me by getting my record expunged. I willimmediately begin to look for a higher paying job and because of you, I have a betterchance of being hired. Please continue to help the less fortunate community becausewe need it and appreciate it greatly. Thanks Ms. Kennedy

Linda translated her knowledge of systemic challenges for our individual clientsto advocate for systemic change. In the spring of 2007, she successfully advocated,in coalition with several other organizations, for legislation to require the Stateof Maryland to expunge evidence of any arrest where charges where never led.With her efforts, this law eliminated a barrier to housing and employment for

over 21,000 citizens of Maryland.

Linda also fought tirelessly to include homeless people as a recognized class un-der Marylands hate crime statute and pressed to expand our expungement lawto minor offenses, such as sleeping in a park or loitering, which have adisproportionate impact on people who are homeless. The Homeless PersonsRepresentation Project will continue Lindas efforts to make these policies law inher memory.

A signicant part of Lindas work included conducting workshops on expunge-

ment opportunities and the barriers to housing and employment posed by acriminal records. She was deeply respected as an expert in such elds and freelyand without hesitation shared her knowledge with other organizations and ourcommunity of neighbors who are homeless or at risk of homelessness inMaryland and around the country.

At the Homeless Persons Representation Project, Linda was part of our family.We admired and respected her work, but she was also a dear friend and mentor.We will miss her.

On December 13, 2007, we lost our dearfriend and colleague Linda Kennedy after herlong and courageous struggle with cancer.

Linda was a champion for equal treatmentfor our clients and neighbors who strugglewith homelessness. Her tireless work, partic-ularly with people seeking to overcome bar-riers to housing and employment imposed

by criminal records, had a signicant impactin our community. Linda provided criticalrepresentation to our clients in their effortsto expunge arrest records and resolve col-lateral issues related to criminal records.Lindas deeply caring manner with whichshe addressed the needs of each client wasspecial. One client wrote to Linda to say:


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Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.1800 N. Charles Street, Suite 206Baltimore, MD 21201

410-685-6589

800-773-4340 Toll Free

410-625-0361 Fax

www.hprplaw.org

Annual Report 2008 April23

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