Annual Report 2009_032210

HOMELESS PERSONS REPRESENTATION PROJECT, INC.

ANNUAL REPORT 2009JULY 1, 2008 - JUNE 30, 2009

2 HOMELESS PERSONS REPRESENTATION PROJECT, INC. ANNUAL REPORT 2009

BOARD OF DIRECTORSFISCAL YEAR 2009 (JULY 1, 2008 - JUNE 30, 2009)PresidentIrving E. Walker, Esq.Cole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A.*

Vice PresidentLevern BlackmonPublic Justice Center

TreasurerDaniel Hatcher, Esq.University of Baltimore School of Law

Secretary Jacqueline Allen, Esq. Saul Ewing, LLP

Olive Akhigbe Bank of AmericaJohn Eidleman, Esq.Legal Services CorporationJane HarrisonConsultantShelly Marie Martin, Esq.Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLPRogelyn McLean, Esq.Crowell & Moring, LLP Yoanna X. Moisides, Esq.Legal Aid Bureau, Inc.Robert Rhudy, Esq.ConsultantMatthew G. Summers, Esq.Ballard Spahr, LLPGerald R. Walsh, Esq.Gerald R. Walsh, P.A.David E. Wolfe, Esq.Alex. Brown Realty, Inc.*Affiliations, as of June 30, 2009, for identification purposes only

STAFF

Executive DirectorAntonia K. Fasanelli, Esq.**

Managing AttorneyCarolyn Johnson, Esq.

Director of Pro Bono ProgramsAmelia Lazarus, Esq.

Staff AttorneysFrancine K. Hahn, Esq.Sarah Spangler Rhine, Esq.

Legal Clinic CoordinatorLaura Reagan

Administrative AssistantSelena Santos

Office AdministratorMaddy Dwertman

**Admitted in NY and DC; Specialauthorization in MD pursuant toCourt of Appeals Rule 15

HOMELESS PERSONS REPRESENTATION PROJECT, INC. ANNUAL REPORT 2009 3

Mission and Vision

HPRP’s mission is to end homelessness in Maryland by providing free legal services, including advice, counsel, education, representation and advocacy, for low-income persons who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.

Our staff and volunteers pursue this mission by offering legal services through outreach in shel-ters, soup kitchens, welfare offices, community cen-ters and on the street. Our direct representation informs broader-based systemic advocacy and impact litigation to address the root causes of homelessness.

HPRP envisions an end to homelessness in Maryland.

(HPRP Staff Attorney Francine Hahn educates shelter residents about accessing public benefits.)


A Message From Our LeadersDear Friends:

Homelessness is increasing in Maryland. The Baltimore City Homeless Census conducted in January 2009 identified a 12% increase in the number of homeless people in the City—the City’s first significant increase in homelessness since 2005, with 3,419 total people identified as homeless, including 312 individuals who slept outside in 16 degree weather in January. The City’s school system reports that the number of homeless children in all precarious housing situations has doubled from the previous year. The foreclosure crisis and other effects of the economic down-turn continue to have a devastating impact on our most vulnerable neighbors.

The Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) responded to these needs. Within this report, you will learn that we increased the number of legal matters on which we provide representation, we increased the number of volunteers to aid our Staff in meeting the increased client demand and we opened new commu-nity-based intake locations, ensuring that we were able to continue to meet clients in locations easily accessible to them. You will also learn that we, in collaboration with the Public Justice Center, the National Center for Law and Economic Justice and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, sought statewide relief regarding delays in Food Stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance after witnessing the unbearable struggles of our clients.

Maintaining the core value that HPRP’s programs must respond to the most pressing needs of Maryland’s population of people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, HPRP’s Board and Staff also engaged in strategic planning. By solicit-ing the input of our stakeholders and homeless services providers statewide, we were able to chart a course for effective statewide impact over the next five years. We are pleased to share the results of that planning effort within this report and on our website at www.hprplaw.org.

Committed to diversifying our funding sources, HPRP launched its First Annual Campaign to End Homelessness. With the generous assistance of Co-Chairs Stuart Simms and Caroline D. Ciraolo and media sponsor, The Daily Record, HPRP raised $69,420 in the Campaign through September 30, 2009.

Thank you for joining us in our efforts to end homelessness in Maryland. We are grateful for all that you do—whether as a donor, volunteer or friend—to support HPRP and our neighbors struggling with homelessness.

Sincerely,

Antonia K. Fasanelli, Esq. Irving E. Walker, Esq.Executive Director Board President


Strategic DirectionWith a Management Assistance Grant from the Goldseker Foundation, HPRP engaged in strategic planning to conduct an analysis of the causes of homelessness in Maryland and the legal solutions that exist to address certain of those causes; to decide which of those solutions to pursue; and to develop a five-year plan with accompanying action plan to implement goals and priorities toward achieving those solutions to homelessness. With the pro bono assistance of Elizabeth Colantuoni, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine at Johns Hop-kins University, who designed a sampling scheme, HPRP was able to survey 97 homeless services providers to assess the needs of homeless people in their regions and the role that legal services could or should play in address-ing the needs. Forty-four (44) organizations responded with the following results: homelessness has increased in all of their jurisdictions; creation of af-fordable housing is the main solution to homelessness in their communities; people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness have insufficient access to legal services in their communities; and state-wide advocacy is necessary to create long-standing solutions to homelessness.

With this information and the assistance of Maryland Association of Non-profit Organizations consultant Lynn Heller, who also arranged for 34 stakeholder interviews, HPRP’s Board and Staff developed the organization’s five-year strategic plan and accompanying action plan. HPRP’s Board and Staff made critical decisions to leverage HPRP’s limited resources by expand-ing HPRP’s Pro Bono Program, to target all legal services to issues likely to prevent or end homelessness, to increase the visibility of the organization and the issue of homelessness, to develop a state-wide network to advocate for long-standing solutions to homelessness and to strategically fundraise to support these efforts. The full strategic plan is available on HPRP’s website at www.hprplaw.org.


HPRP Pro Bono ProgramJacqueline AllenSonja AllenJoshua AltmanChristopher AlworthMichelle AmickCatrina AquilinoArti AryalMark BacharaMichelle BarnesOrlando BarnesJohn Bartkowiak, Jr.Derek BaumgardnerDerek BayneJessica BeaverJeremy BedfordMichelle BernsteinKevin BestBryan A. BishopDarcy BissetRichard BloomNatasha BlountRandi BocanegraStephanie BonhommeRichard Boucher, Jr.Nicole BoykinSandy BrantleyAnne BrennonMalcolm BriskerDamon BrownJustin BrowneRobert CainAdam CaldwellCheryl CallowayElizabeth Colantuoni Lucy CardwellSara ChaconasRachel CohenLeight CollinsLeah Conway-DempseyCarol CooperCurtis CooperChristopher CoreliarinoJennifer CraigGreg CullingDemetrious DatchCelia DavisElmer DavisMaura Demouy

Marianne Depaulo PlantHeather DlhopolskyMaureen DoddDenese Dominguez*Alicia DonohoeMary Anna DonohoeKristin DrakeJustin DullJ. Barry DumserMelinda DunmireDonna EngleKim EvansItamar EzaouiBryson FilbertJustin FineTim FisherIan FossSusan FrancisGeoffrey GambleTom GerahtyThomas GianniniAlexandria GillilandMarie GoffDaniel GoldsteinSarah GrabensteinMatthew GreenHenry GreenidgeLeza GriffithSatoko HaradaConstance M. HareBrian HarveyKathryn HickeyMary Ellen HimesIan HitchcockBarbara HolmesJuanita HopkinsCarol HoshallShea HoxieNoah IssermanBrett JacksonRonald JacksonBrooke JenningsGrace Johnk Joi JohnsonMargi JoshiConrad JudyJoseph KaufmanMary Keating

Michelle KendusBruce KentMichael KerstenSarah KiserBrandi KligmanHolly KnepperRonna LazarusJeanette LeeAviva LeebowKaren LevianStephanie LewisStacey LohmannPhilip LohreyPaul MackMeredith Maller Shannon Madden MarshallDelfine MaralushaRichard Martel Katrina Maultsby- BaldwinFrances F. MayJerome T. MayJim MayhewOrlando MayoLorie MayorgaSamantha MazoRobert McDonaldJim McFaulJanet McHughAlexander McMullenBetty MeerovichEileen MeierCraig MerkleCristina MilnorAaron MooreAvarind MuthukrishnanCarrie NazelrodBreanda NelisK. Nichole NesbittSam Nikoomanesh*Megan O’ConnorJames OsborneAbioye OyewoleMatt PaavolaChristina PappasRobert ParkDeborah Parraz

Michael PateJohn PetrovichHeidi PriceJohn Price, Jr.Alicia RitchieAnthony RossoJoy Sakamoto- WengelRalph Sapia*Teresa SchmiedelerKristen SchrockMark ScurtiMelissa-Lynn SellersHaleh SetayeshMichael SigelAndrew SindlerJonathan SingerNikki SinghMichelle SiriJohn SmolenNevitt SteeleBobbie Steyer*Derek StikeleatherDonald Stone*Tracey SuperRachel TafaroLeslee Tingle John TramazzoGenevieve TregoKathleen TrinwardJack TurnbullEmily VaiasAshley VancleefIrving WalkerAlicia WallaceJohn Weiss, Jr.Carolyn WhiteMisty WilksShereen WingoDavid WolfeRoger WolfeDesiree WoodardBeth Woodland- HargroveMeghan YanacekBrian YoungRichard ZeidmanMarla Zide

*Member of Volunteer Advisory Committee

VOLUNTEERS


Michael PateJohn PetrovichHeidi PriceJohn Price, Jr.Alicia RitchieAnthony RossoJoy Sakamoto- WengelRalph Sapia*Teresa SchmiedelerKristen SchrockMark ScurtiMelissa-Lynn SellersHaleh SetayeshMichael SigelAndrew SindlerJonathan SingerNikki SinghMichelle SiriJohn SmolenNevitt SteeleBobbie Steyer*Derek StikeleatherDonald Stone*Tracey SuperRachel TafaroLeslee Tingle John TramazzoGenevieve TregoKathleen TrinwardJack TurnbullEmily VaiasAshley VancleefIrving WalkerAlicia WallaceJohn Weiss, Jr.Carolyn WhiteMisty WilksShereen WingoDavid WolfeRoger WolfeDesiree WoodardBeth Woodland- HargroveMeghan YanacekBrian YoungRichard ZeidmanMarla Zide

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 2009, volunteers donated over 1079 hours of service to HPRP and its clients, including over 841hours, valued at

$216,297, donated by attorneys.

In 2009, HPRP continued the strong development of its pro bono programs. HPRP increased its number of volunteers from 103 to 188. These volunteers opened 371 legal matters, a significant increase over the 40 matters opened by volunteers during the previous fiscal year.

HPRP established two monthly off-site legal clinics at Our Daily Bread Employ-ment Center and Oliver Community Center, where HPRP volunteers provide legal representation in criminal record expungement matters as a complement to the employment training and counseling currently ongoing at those Centers. By establishing these off-site clinics, HPRP was able to reorganize its legal work, relying exclusively on volunteers to provide expungement representation, and allowing HPRP Staff Attorneys to pursue more complex matters.

On June 9, 2009, HPRP held its Volunteer Appreciation Reception at Lucy’s Irish Restaurant. Awardees received artwork created by residents of The Helping Up Mission.

(Left to Right: Amelia Lazarus, Direc-tor of Pro Bono Programs, HPRP;

Professor Donald Stone, University of Baltimore School of Law, holding Fiddler in the Woods by Richard Men-

delsohn; and Antonia Fasanelli, Execu-tive Director, HPRP. Photo by Harriet Robinson, Deputy Director, Maryland

Legal Services Corporation)

OUTSANDING VOLUNTEERSJustin Browne, Co-Chair, Maryland State

Bar Association, Military Law Committee

John Smolen, Hogan & Hartson LLPCristina Milnor, Office of the Attorney

General, MarylandAlicia Ritchie, Miles & Stockbridge, P.C.Mary Anna Donohoe, Attorney at Law

OUTSTANDING LAW PROFESSORDonald Stone, University of Baltimore

School of Law

OUTSTANDING FIRMSLinowes & Blocher, LLP

Saul Ewing, LLP

OUTSTANDING CO-COUNSELDaniel Goldstein, Brown, Goldstein &

Levy, LLP Mary Ellen Himes, Venable, LLP

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION RECEPTION


Case and Program Highlights

Consumer/Finance - 1%

Employment (Expungement) - 62%

Family - 1%

Health - 2%

Housing - 17%

Income Maintenance - 15%

Other - 2%

CASE BY TYPE

HPRP opened 761 cases, an increase of 48 cases from the previous fiscal year, and closed 673 cases. These cases constitute matters in which HPRP staff or vol-unteers represented people struggling with homeless-ness in legal disputes to prevent or end homelessness. HPRP also received 879 calls where brief advice, information or referral was given, an increase of 315 from the previous fiscal year. These calls reflect the “unmet” need because of insufficient resources or other reasons.

Brief Advice Info & Referral - 17%

Counseling - 23%

Negotiations - 9%

Representation - Judicial Litigation - 43%

Representation - Administration Proceeding - 8%

CASE BY LEVEL OF SERVICE


HOUSING FIRST ASSISTANCE PROGRAM HPRP established a new project providing legal representation and advocacy to chronically homeless persons seeking admission into permanent supportive housing. This project, which is an expansion of HPRP’s access and preservation of housing project, reflects the goals of Baltimore City’s 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness, and directly eliminates homelessness by helping people who have lived without homes for years obtain housing.

ACCESS TO PUBLIC BENEFITSIn April 2009, in collaboration with the Public Justice Center, the National Center for Law and Economic Justice and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, HPRP filed suit against the Maryland Department of Human Resources (DHR) over delays in the delivery of Food Stamps, Temporary Cash Assistance and Medical Assistance. DHR’s own data shows that it fails to process over 4,000 ap-plications each month within the time frames mandated by state and federal law, thereby unlawfully delaying receipt of subsistence benefits to vulnerable Maryland families.

POLICY/ADVOCACYAfter years of collaboration with community partners, including Health Care for the Homeless, the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty and the National Coalition for the Homeless, in advocating for passage of an amendment to add homeless people as a protected group under Maryland’s Hate Crime Statute, the General Assembly passed the bill, thereby enact-ing special penalties for persons who commit crimes against people who are homeless because they are homeless. This new law is an mportant recognition of the dangerous nature of homelessness.

VETERANS’ BENEFITS PROJECTHPRP expanded its veterans’ benefits project started at the conclusion of Fiscal Year 2008. HPRP has collaborated with the Pro Bono Resource Center, University of Maryland School of Law and the Maryland State Bar Association Special Committee on Veteran’s Affairs and Military Law to expand its efforts to enhance legal assistance to veterans in claims for service-connected disabil-ity and pension benefits.This team held the First Annual Veterans’ Legal Assis-tance Conference on April 17, 2009, and collaborated on a successful proposal to the American Bar Association for funding to focus volunteer recruitment efforts on emeritus attorneys. This project is the only program in Maryland providing free legal services to veterans in claims for these types of benefits.


Honoring Our DonorsEXECUTIVE CIRCLE($10,00 AND UP)The Abell FoundationBaltimore Community FoundationFund for ChangeGoldseker FoundationMaryland Legal Sevices CorporationThe Harry and Jeanette Weinberg FoundationThe Zanvyl and Isabelle Kreiger Fund($5,000-$9,999)American Bar Association Enterprise Fund($2,500-$4,999) Jane Harrison ($1,000-$2,499)Susan BennettJane C. DiefenbachJohn EidlemanKevin Griffin Moreno and Kim MorenoShelly Marie MartinRogelyn D. McLeanMatthew G. SummersIrving E. Walker($500-$999)Florence D. FasanelliJonathan and Allison StantonSanford V. Teplitzky, Esq.Robert Wolinsky and Danielle Estrada($250-$499)Jacqueline AllenSteve HillJeffrey E. RisbergPaul Sturn and Dick HumphreyDavid E. Wolfe ADVOCATE CIRCLE ($100-$249)Nilaya BaccusClinton BambergerLevern BlackmonDonald G. BrennemanChris Clayton and Paul BaumannSandra Y. ClintonRobert Cole, Jr.Jenifer Cromwell and Brian Reed Bruce CurtisKim Y. EvansAntonia FasanelliDavid Freishtat, Esq.

Herbert S. Garten, Esq.Michele E. GilmanDale E. GorsuchStefanie & Brian Greer Daniel HatcherMichael J. HayesCharles S. HirschTillie LacayoSam NikoomaneshJohn PrughAnginetta RodgersRobert RhudyJ. Peter SabonisRobert B. Schulman, Esq.Charles B. ShaferDonald Joseph TebbeMildred WalkerRobert and Pat Welch Berdetta V. WhiteEmily ZychowiczFRIENDS CIRCLE (UP TO $99)Ebaide Akighbe Olive AkighbeOsebo Akighbe Elinor R. BaconBruno BakelHugh BakelMary BakelMary BaumannPaul BaumannLaoma BeckAnne BlumenbergJeanette BrettRicky Brooks, IIGreg CareJessica Cates-BristolNathan H. ChristopherNicole Ann DaviesChris Der Sally Dworak-FisherLena EarlyStephanie M. EdelsteinWayne A. EppsJoAnn Frick BakerAlbert GallagherPatricia GallagherAnna Gallagher Patricia GallagherDeborah GardnerJohn J. Gingher, IIILeigh GoodmarkTiffany LaShawn HaiglerFrancine HahnAllison Harper Ava HatcherCaterina Hatcher

Landon HatcherRaina HatcherCarrie HayterMatt Hill Tameka HolnessJane S. HongLazarus JamesHassan James, Sr.Hassan James, IINyari JamesCarolyn JohnsonSharon Krevor-WeisbaumJanet LaBellaLazarus & Burt, P.A.Amelia LazarusElli LazarusAndrew LevyRhonda LipkinKevin Lindamood and Jeff SingerBrenda Midkiff Sharon L. MillerHenry and Judith MillonDiane L. MinorYoanna MoisidesJoanne NathansMichael Osborne and Dana DeLorenzoJennifer Pelton Terry L. PurnellLaura ReaganEllen Kyriacou RenaudChristine F. RhineLuke Joseph RhineMark RhineSarah Spangler RhineStuart A. SchadtStuart Simms, Esq. Bertha R. Simon Kevin F. SmithRebecca SpanglerShirley Brett SpanglerTom Spangler Barry Steelman, Esq.David Gavin SteibPauline TajchmanShelley Klein TrazkovichLeslie Walker Richard L. WassermanAdam Weaver Chanda Y. WilliamsAdrienne Wineholt Howard F. WrightAlly WolfeErica Wolfe *Cash Basis

GENERAL DONATIONS *


FRIEND($100-$249)Jenifer Cromwell and Brian ReedCrowell & Moring, LLPKia DennisFlorence D. FasanelliJoAnn Frick BakerHerbert S. Garten, Esq.Michele E. GilmanDaniel Hatcher Buzzy and Myra HettlemanAnna Maria HibbsSteve HillLenna Kennedy, in memory of Linda and EmmettYoanna MoisidesJoanne NathansMelanie Styles Debbie and Dave SugarmanWilliams Anderson LLP

Program Services -$478,420

Fundraising -$41,517

Management & General -$64,877

FIRST ANNUAL CAMPAIGN TO END HOMELESSNESS CONTRIBUTIONS

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

CHAMPION($10,000 AND ABOVE)Jane Harrison, in memory of her mother, Mary Cohen Wachovia--A Wells Fargo CompanyPATRON($5,000-$9,999) Irving E. and Leslie WalkerBENEFACTOR($2,500-$4,999)Bank of America FoundationBrown, Goldstein & Levy, LLPCole, Schotz, Meisel, Forman & Leonard, P.A. Shelly Marie MartinLEADER($1,000-$2,499) Ballard Spahr, LLPSusan BennettKramon & Graham, P.A.The M&T Charitable Foundation Rosenberg / Martin / Greenberg, LLP The Venable FoundationGerald R. Walsh, P.A.ADVOCATE($500-$999)Jane C. Brown and Neil Didrikson Caroline D. CiraoloDLA Piper LLPHogan & Hartson, LLPKent Family FoundationNeuberger, Quinn, Gielen, Rubin & Gibber, P.A.Saul Ewing, LLPSemmes, Bowen and Semmes Foundation, Inc.Matthew G. SummersSPONSOR($250-$499)Jacqueline AllenLawrence D. CoppelJohn EidlemanDale E. GorsuchNathans & Biddle, LLPMark NeumannRobert RhudyJohn P. SmolenKatherine TaiDavid E. Wolfe

Total Expenses: $586,704

DONOR(UP TO $99)Mary BaumannLevern BlackmonRuth CrystalMary Denise Davis Rosemary A. DavisLena EarlyAntonia FasanelliHerbert and Harriet GoldmanLeigh GoodmarkSarah GrabensteinStefanie Greer Seth G. GromanVirginia KnowltonHenry and Judith MillonJeremy MossOdeana NealSteven and Joy Sakamoto-WengelSamuel E. and Donelda J. Stayton

Foundations -$141,950

Grants - $412,989

Contributions -$71,008

Program Services -$6,000

Interest & Other -$3,559

Total Revenue: $635,506

With honorary co-chairs Stuart Simms of Brown, Goldstein & Levy, LLP and Caroline D. Ciraolo of Rosenberg / Martin / Greenberg, LLP, the inaugural Cam-

paign, which ran from May 1 through September 30, 2009, raised $69,240.

*

*The contributions reported above include those received in Fiscal Year 2010 (after June 30, 2009). Campaign donations will be reported similarly in future Annual Reports.

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

Baltimore, MD 21201410-685-6589

800-773-4340 Toll Free410-625-0361 Faxwww.hprplaw.org

Annual Report 2009_032210

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