The Clearinghouse held a Legal Clinic for the Homeless on Friday, November 14 at St. Francis House in Boston, along with five volunteer lawyers from Goulston & Storrs and one third-year law student from Boston University.
Nine homeless and low income clients came to the clinic, seeking assistance with disability payments, housing, eviction, and other civil legal issues.
Doug DiMartile, the Manager of Guest Services at St. Francis House, is one of the Clearinghouse’s Clinic Coordinators. DiMartile says the Clearinghouse’s Legal Clinic model, where volunteer attorneys meet clients at the shelter, as opposed to sending clients to firms or legal aid offices, creates a team approach that is very beneficial to clients.
“Once the legal clinic is over, that attorney has often met the case manager, can sign the releases then and there with the client, and can continue that collaboration outside the bounds of our building,” DiMartile says. “It’s that type of onsite collaboration and support that is absolutely necessary for a population that very often doesn’t have an easy way to stay in contact.”
When the Clinic ended at noon, volunteers met to discuss potential cases with Clearinghouse Executive Director Maribeth Perry. Each case will be subject to a conflicts check and will require final approval from the firm.
The next Legal Clinic for the Homeless will be held on Friday, November 21, at St. Francis House, with volunteers from Ropes & Gray. Check the calendar for future Clinic dates.
