Mass Legal Answers Online Hits New Milestones During Pro Bono Month
More than 8,000 questions have now been answered by over 300 volunteer attorneys on Mass Legal Answers Online (MLAO), the Massachusetts home of the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers project. This milestone was hit just as lawyers from across the country celebrate October as Pro Bono month to shine a light on important pro bono work.
Q&A with Jamie Sabino, Deputy Director of Advocacy
Mass Law Reform is powered by our advocates – talented and committed individuals who work together to fight for the needs of low-income people. We want to highlight these advocates, starting with Jamie Sabino, MLRI’s Deputy Director of Advocacy.
Jamie Sabino joined MLRI in October 2014. She is the Deputy Director of Advocacy and the Managing Attorney of the Civil Legal Needs for Victims of Crime Initiative (CLAVC). The CLAVC Initiative is supported by the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance through a Victims of Crime Act of 1984 (VOCA) grant from the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
In addition, she serves as lead advocate for the Domestic Violence Legal Assistance Project (DVLAP) including facilitating the Family Law Task Force, a statewide group of legal services family law attorneys, attorneys in domestic violence service provider agencies, and attorneys involved in family law pro bono programs and law school clinics.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, and Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, Along with 160+ Organizations, Urge the Baker Administration to Change Harmful RAFT Requirement
For Immediate Release: October 18, 2022
Contact: Christine Dunn
christine@sevenletter.com | 617.646.1044
New rules in rental assistance program will increase evictions, loss of housing and homelessness
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, and Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, together with over 160 organizations and elected officials across the state, sent a letter to Massachusetts legislative leaders, legislators, and the Baker Administration, requesting the removal of a new, harmful requirement in the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program. The requirement, effective August 1, 2022, is preventing qualified households from accessing needed benefits which is prompting preventable evictions, forcing households to fall further behind in rent, and putting them at greater risk of homelessness.
MA Nonprofits Thank Congressman Jim McGovern for his Anti-Hunger Advocacy
MLRI joins 34 anti-hunger organizations in extending admiration and gratitude to Chairman McGovern for his ceaseless dedication to fighting food insecurity throughout his tenure in Congress. We are thankful for his championing of anti-hunger issues and pushing forward the funding that made the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health possible.
Indigenous Peoples Day 2022
Today, MLRI observes Indigenous Peoples Day, a day to celebrate and honor Native American people’s cultures and contributions. For far too long, the historical facts and present realities of indigenous communities have been obfuscated and overlooked. Despite the common narrative that relegates Indigenous peoples to the past, there are presently thousands of Indigenous people across the state fighting to survive and thrive in Massachusetts. Their contributions to society are invaluable and deserve recognition.