Crucial Funding for Legal Services for Low-Income DC Residents is Threatened by the District’s Budget Crisis
The Access to Justice (ATJ) Initiative funds critical legal services that protect the civil rights of families and communities across Washington, D.C. It is the District of Columbia’s largest public investment in civil legal services for low- and moderate-income District residents.
At the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, we rely on this funding to defend and advance civil rights across all eight wards of the District.
At WLC, the ATJ Initiative supports crucial operations including:
28%
of our annual operating revenue
13
staff positions (about half the total WLC staff)
81
workers’ rights clinics per year
ATJ Benefits All D.C. Residents, in All 8 Wards of the City
ATJ enforces D.C. laws & civil rights.
ATJ funding ensures residents can challenge discrimination, unsafe housing, wage theft, and school access barriers.
ATJ promotes racial & economic equity.
Most WLC clients are Black or from underserved communities. ATJ helps address systemic injustice head-on.
ATJ prevents crises, saving city resources.
Legal help keeps families housed, kids in school, and workers employed—reducing pressure on emergency services.
ATJ stabilizes communities.
Safe housing, fair pay, and legal protections build stronger, safer neighborhoods.
ATJ delivers services citywide.
WLC serves residents in all eight wards—ensuring justice isn’t limited by income or zip code.
ATJ multiplies public investment.
ATJ dollars unlock pro bono partnerships—maximizing impact without increasing city spending.
ATJ Funds the Work of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee
Since our founding in 1968, the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs (WLC) has used strategic litigation to advance workers’ rights, housing justice, disability rights, and other essential civil rights for low-income D.C. residents.
In 2024–2025, ATJ funding has supported our work to:
Protect low-wage workers from exploitative employment practices.
The WLC D.C. Workers’ Rights Clinic is the only clinic in the city offering comprehensive pro bono legal advice on workers’ rights issues. Volunteers advise workers experiencing wage theft, sexual harassment, and retaliatory termination. WLC operates one in-person clinic each month at Bread for the City in Anacostia, as well as multiple virtual clinics.
Expand access to accessible housing for people with disabilities.
In February 2025, WLC filed a lawsuit against two housing providers, alleging unlawful discrimination in the design and construction of a multifamily building in Northeast D.C.—a violation of D.C. law. There’s an acute shortage of accessible housing, with a need for up to 300,000 accessible units in the region. Developers who ignore accessibility requirements perpetuate this shortage and limit housing options for people with disabilities.
Defend tenants’ rights to organize and demand safe housing conditions.
In 2024, WLC filed suit on behalf of tenants at an affordable housing complex in Northwest D.C., where primarily working-class Black families have faced unsafe conditions and retaliation for organizing. The lawsuit seeks to hold landlords and property managers accountable for violating tenants’ legal right to organize—a right protected under D.C. law.
Improve transportation equity for people with disabilities.
In 2024, the Equal Rights Center—represented by WLC—reached an agreement with Uber Technologies, Inc. to improve access to wheelchair-accessible vehicles (WAVs) in Washington, D.C. The agreement outlines a series of actions Uber will take to increase the availability and safety of WAV rides for users of its rideshare platform. The effort reflects a broader push to ensure that all D.C. residents, regardless of mobility needs, can access reliable, inclusive transportation options.
Challenge discriminatory tenant screening practices that reinforce inequities.
In April 2025, the Equal Rights Center—represented by WLC and Relman Colfax—filed a lawsuit against the owners of The MO apartment complex in Union Market, alleging that their screening policies illegally exclude housing voucher holders and people with criminal records. These practices violate D.C. civil rights laws and create unfair barriers to housing—especially for Black residents and low-income communities. The lawsuit seeks to end this discrimination and promote fairer, more inclusive tenant screening across the city.
The Access to Justice Initiative is not just a line item—it’s a lifeline. Without this funding, D.C. will lose critical legal protections for those who need them most.
We urge the D.C. Council to continue to fully fund the Access to Justice Initiative.
Preserve this vital resource that strengthens our communities, keeps our city strong, and ensures justice is available to all—not just those who can afford it.