Impact of the Homeless Persons Representation Project

The Homeless Persons Representation Project (HPRP) uses the law to achieve an end to homelessness in Maryland.
Targeted Legal Services

What is Unique About HPRP?

HPRP is the only legal services program in Maryland that works to end homelessness. HPRP is not a general legal services provider; HPRP targets its legal work on issues that will directly prevent or eliminate homelessness.

Community-based Approach
HPRP Staff and Volunteers conduct outreach and meet with people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness in shelters, soup kitchens, community-based associations and on the street to provide legal representation.

Education and Advocacy

HPRP Staff conduct forums in the community for clients, service providers and others on legal issues confronting people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. HPRP Staff address systemic hurdles to ending homelessness, including improving government services, programs and laws, with knowledge derived from client experiences.

HPRP Programs
Our Staff and Volunteers target legal services on issues that will directly assist someone in moving from homelessness into housing or in keeping the housing they need. These are examples of some of HPRPs programs: Helping Homeless Veterans: In 2008, HPRP created Marylands only free legal services program specically for veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness to obtain representation in claims for service-connected disability benets. The Baltimore VA claims ofce continues to have the slowest processing rate for applications for benets in the country. HPRP makes a difference: An HPRP volunteer attorney represented a veteran of the U.S. Army with severe post-traumatic stress disorder in a claim for service-connected disability benets. After four years of effort, the VA acknowledged and awarded benets for the veterans post-traumatic stress disorder, resulting in a large retroactive benet. Ensuring stability for homeless families: Nationwide, the number of homeless families has increased signicantly and Maryland is no exception. HPRP provides legal representation to help families get the housing and income they need to achieve stability. HPRP makes a difference: An HPRP Staff Attorney represented a mother, Ms. C, who lived in transitional housing with her minor son. Ms. C received Temporary Cash Assistance to help her support her family and pay her living expenses, the receipt of which was contingent on her attendance at a work activity every day. As required by federal law, the Baltimore City Public School System was providing transportation for Ms. Cs son to and from school, but regularly failed to arrive on time making Ms. C late to her work activity assignment. Despite the Citys role contributing to Ms. Cs lateness, the Department of Social Services sanctioned Ms. C and withheld her only source of income. HPRP successfully appealed this sanction and Ms. C received the lost two months of retroactive benets, which enabled her to pay her living expenses in transitional housing. Preventing Homelessness: In 2008, Baltimore City issued The Journey Home, the Citys 10-Year Plan to End Homelessness. The Plan contained a commitment to house persons who had been homeless for more than one year or four or more times in three years. The City issued over 400 rental subsidies to qualifying individuals and families and arranged for case management for those housed. HPRP has represented persons in efforts to obtain these subsidies, and more recently, in efforts to keep these critical resources. HPRP makes a difference: An HPRP Staff Attorney represented Mr. D, who received one of these special rental subsidies, but was facing eviction. Mr. Ds landlord had not kept his rental property up to code and the Housing Authority was refusing to pay the subsidized rent until the repairs were made. Instead of making the repairs, Mr. Ds landlord sued Mr. D for the rental difference, in clear violation of federal law. HPRP successfully represented Mr. D and he remains housed to this day.

*Client names have been changed to protect condentiality.

Who is HPRP?
HPRP has a Staff of 6 attorneys who work with over 450 volunteer attorneys, paralegals and law students to provide legal services, education and advocacy to prevent and eliminate homelessness. HPRP handles about 700 client matters each year.