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< Back to Testimony / Comments
November 30, 2009
Inadequate housing and unsafe living conditions impact both the physical and psychological development of children and their ability to learn and grow. Of particular concern are mold, cockroaches and rodent infestations, which exacerbate asthma - already an epidemic for DC children. Currently, there is no simple and easy way for tenants in DC to get redress for landlord-tenant issues, including these important health and safety concerns. While tenants can report these issues to the city, landlords often do not fix the problems.
On November 30, 2009, Children's Law Center testified before the DC Council Committee on Housing and Workforce Development in support of the Tenant Access to Justice Reform Act of 2009. This bill will give tenants access to landlord-tenant court, allowing them to sue when they are forced to live in unsafe and unhealthy housing conditions - ultimately leading to healthier children. The Children's National Medical Center, which collaborates with us to form the CLC Health Access Project to win legal and administrative battles necessary to improve children's health, also testified in support of this bill.
Click here to read CLC's testimony.
Click here to read the Children's National Medical Center's testimony.
“Children's Law Center is our best organizational partner and we turn to them often for legal guidance and support. When I think of CLC I think of their unique expertise and extensive knowledge, their generosity in sharing that knowledge with our community, and their integrity in conducting this important work. The lives of the children and families they serve are significantly improved because CLC exists.”
-Margie Chalofsky,
Executive Director,
Foster & Adoptive Parent Advocacy Center (FAPAC)
