The VLB staff celebrated a great day at Project Homeless Connect in February. More than 20 attorney volunteers came out to assist more than 100 clients, helping them overcome legal issues that prevented them from moving forward with their lives. We look forward to continuing to make a positive impact in our community with the help of our volunteers and supporters. Front row, from left: Interim Executive Director Graham Hewitt, staff attorney Wilson Myers, staff attorney Lisa Singer, intake/closing coordinator Breonna Garrett, service coordinator Vetrica Hill, staff attorney Kimia Moshiri and communications coordinator Rosalind Fournier. Back row,from left: Woodlawn coordinator Jonathan Moore, staff attorney Eric Vinsant, staff attorney Twala Wallace and volunteer coordinator Michelle Brown.
VLB offers virtual help Service in addressing community’s needs continues during pandemic By Graham Hewitt, Interim Executive Director In mid-March, life as we knew it fell like dominoes. Courts, schools, places of worship, social gathering spots and entire office buildings shut down with instructions for everyone to stay at home until further notice. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everyone. Many of our most vulnerable citizens, however, have experienced the hardships more acutely through lost
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wages, greater health risks and lack of shelter. For others, even the threat of the pandemic did nothing to stop emergencies including domestic violence or loss of housing. Seeing the need to continue services, Volunteer Lawyers Birmingham transitioned quickly to a new Virtual Help Desk Model in order to provide uninterrupted legal assistance to our clients. Things have changed a lot for our community. Unfortunately, home isn’t a safe place for everyone. During the stay-at-home period, domestic violence and dangerous living conditions escalated,
and we continued to see fallout from the pandemic. Throughout this time, VLB did not miss a day of service, addressing the legal needs of low-income individuals and families in Jefferson County. Now that we’re moving toward a new normal, we are working harder than ever to help people get back on their feet using all the legal tools and expertise at our disposal. Our clients need your help. Please contact us today to volunteer or make a contribution: 205-250-5198 or ghewitt@ vlbham.org.
BIRMINGHAM BAR BULLETIN
