Partner Kristen Reilly Honored for Pro Bono Work for the Homeless

Partner Kristen Reilly volunteers at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless at one of their walk-in intake centers and assists pro bono clients in obtaining services and benefits. On November 14, 2019, the Legal Clinic honored Kristen and a colleague from another firm with its Dream Team Award for their teamwork and exceptional dedication to the pursuit of justice for those facing homelessness in the District of Columbia.

For the Legal Clinic, Kristen has handled numerous traditional client matters as well as two demanding D.C. Housing Authority voucher cases. In the first DCHA proceeding, the client met with Lindsay and her colleague after his housing voucher had been terminated while he was in a treatment facility. They filed for and obtained a good-cause hearing to appeal the termination, and then successfully negotiated the reinstatement of the client’s voucher. The second DCHA proceeding has required Kristen to address the extremely complex set of facts and law surrounding a client’s voucher that was “ported” from Michigan to D.C., and which was subsequently terminated after DCHA failed to complete a timely lease-up and failed to inform the client accurately as to her legal status under a ported voucher. This has proven to be a lengthy process, but Kirsten has steadfastly sought novel avenues of appeal and to press DCHA for a reinstatement of the client’s voucher. The Legal Clinic’s leadership has called this a hallmark of her work for “diligent, determined and creative representation of our clients.”

More information about the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.