The Baltimore chapter of Jews United for Justice, (JUFJ) is a grassroots community that seeks to repair the world by working locally for social, racial, and economic justice. A housing crisis in on the horizon. In this moment of uncertainty, it is critical to make sure our Baltimore City government protects its most vulnerable residents. During this crisis JUFJ, which organizes Jews around local policy issues, is mobilizing our community and using our power to amplify the voices and needs of those most directly impacted by injustice. JUFJ continues to organize for valuable housing protections. With our partners, we won an eviction moratorium to last until 90 days after the crisis. We are working to extend that. Our coalition is also advocated for late fees cancellations, rent rates to be frozen, and for additional money for rental assistance from the state and city government. Thanks in part to our advocacy, 300 of 700 people in the Baltimore shelter system are in hotels. We continue to work with our partners to get everyone using the shelter system into safe housing now. The CSRC grant will help support our efforts to bring about a more just housing system in Baltimore. Additionally, we will partner with the CSRC by providing an internship opportunity for 1-2 Morgan students to work collaboratively with our organization and with our partners: the Public Justice Center to learn about professional careers in organizing, advocacy, and legal support as interconnected activities.

The Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland (PBRC) is Maryland’s statewide clearinghouse for legal professionals dedicated to offering free civil legal help to the most vulnerable and disenfranchised members of the community. This grant will help provide equal access to justice for tenants through PBRC’s Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day (TVLD) program in Baltimore City Rent Court, including community outreach to educate tenants on their rights and defenses in a Failure to Pay Rent action, and information regarding programs that can help them to remain in their homes. This enhanced information for tenants is greatly needed in a COVID-19 environment.

CLLCTIVLY is a place-based social change organization using an asset-based framework to focus on racial equity, narrative change, social connectedness and resource mobilization. CLLCTIVLY and our partners recognize that COVID-19 and the necessary public health measures to address it will affect our community in many ways – in the weeks ahead and the months to come. Along with the life-threatening implications, it will disrupt the normal operations of everyone in our community. Black-led organizations on the frontline are essential to the wellbeing of our community. As these organizations respond, they may become financially vulnerable themselves as they scramble to cover the cost of expanding their services or suspend programs and events that generate revenue. In the spirit of Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility) now is the time for all of us to come together to support those in need and to contribute to the vitality and health of our community. The CSRC grant will be used to support black led-organizations for relief and for capacity building through micro-grants to Black-led organizations in Baltimore.

CASA Maryland is a group of passionate, community-conscious people working to organize, advocate for, and expand opportunities for Latino and immigrant people in the state of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. We do this by providing employment placement; workforce development and training; health education; citizenship and legal services; and financial, language, and literacy training to Latino and immigrant communities throughout the state. Since our humble beginnings in 1985 assisting Central American refugees fleeing wars and civil strife at home, we have worked tirelessly to bring immigrant communities in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania out of the shadows and into greater power, dignity, and legitimacy. Our mission is To create a more just society by building power and improving the quality of life in working class and immigrant communities. We envision a future where we stand in our own power, our families live free from discrimination and fear, and our diverse communities thrive as we work with our partners to achieve full human rights for all. The grant will contribute to CASA’s Solidarity Fund which will allow CASA to directly distribute cash benefits to members who were unjustly and summarily ignored by the federal government in the CARES Act stimulus package.

The Public Justice Center was founded in Maryland in 1985. The PJC uses legal advocacy tools to pursue social justice, economic and race equity, and fundamental human rights for people who are struggling to provide for their basic needs. The PJC is a civil legal aid office that provides advice and representation to low-income clients, advocates before legislatures and government agencies, and collaborates with community and advocacy organizations. The PJC chooses projects and cases that will make a significant impact on systems, laws, and policies. The Human Right to Housing Project stands with tenants to protect and expand rights to safe, habitable, affordable, and non-discriminatory housing and to fair and equal treatment by Maryland’s landlord-tenant laws, courts and agencies. We provide legal advice, representation, and know-your- rights education to tenants in Baltimore’s eviction court, as well as to tenants whose landlords have entered foreclosure or retaliated against them. Representation then informs efforts to reform eviction court. The CSRC Relief and Restoration grant will help support our ongoing efforts to provide free legal aid and to work collaboratively with partners on the Renters Right to Counsel campaign and the Maryland COVID-19 eviction moratorium initiative. Additionally, we will partner with the CSRC by providing an internship opportunity for 1-2 Morgan students to work with our organization and learn about professional careers in organizing, advocacy, and legal support as interconnected activities.