AJE thanks the D.C. Council for voting to restore funding to the Access to Justice Initiative! This initiative is the District’s largest public investment in civil legal services for low- and moderate-income residents. The legal services offered through the Initiative support a wide range of legal issues, including family law, protection from abuse, economic security, housing, public benefits, education, consumer protection, employment, and much more.  The Access to Justice Initiative is an important part of AJE’s budget, and we are thankful for the support that allows us to serve DC families.  In comments earlier this month, Chairman Mendelson went on at length to describe the Initiative, what it does, and its effectiveness. In doing so, he described D.C. as a national leader in supporting civil legal aid.  You can learn more about the Initiative and its work here: https://dcaccesstojustice.org/access-public-funding/

The Council voted on July 14, 2025 to restore funding worth $31.7M, prioritizing access to justice for our most vulnerable communities. This action by the council reverses a proposed 67% funding reduction, allowing the Access to Justice Initiative to continue supporting and providing legal resources to our residents.  We encourage D.C. residents, businesses, and organizations to thank the Councilmembers for supporting and bolstering this initiative. Thanks to their action, over 200 D.C. government agencies, businesses, health systems, schools, social service providers, and nonprofit organizations will continue to rely on the Initiative to connect D.C. residents with the legal help they need in areas such as health, safety, education, and more.