Recognizing, congratulating, and honoring Community Legal Services on its 50th Anniversary.

WHEREAS, The dedicated staff members at Community Legal Services (CLS) fight for the most vulnerable people in our City, including children, the elderly, immigrants and people with disabilities, bringing power to the powerless in their quest for justice; and

WHEREAS, For 50 years, Community Legal Services has opened its doors to low-income Philadelphians in need, helping more than one million residents who would have otherwise faced devastating consequences such as eviction, foreclosure and loss of employment; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services stands up for thousands of Philadelphians each year, preventing homelessness, reuniting families, breaking down barriers and keeping our residents healthy and our City safe; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services is recognized as one of the premier legal services programs in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services does incredible work to close the justice gap, changing lives and helping our entire community by ensuring that excellent lawyers aren’t only available to those who can afford them; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services brings millions of dollars into the City; expands access to health insurance for the uninsured; keeps low income people in their homes with the utilities turned on; prevents improper loss of critical benefits like Social Security, SSI, Food Stamps and welfare assistance; protects the rights of the elderly and has pioneered the elimination of employment barriers such as criminal records; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services reduces strain on City resources and helps people become self-reliant by helping people get jobs, collect the wages they are owed and access the benefits they are entitled to; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services has been a vital resource and a frequent partner to Philadelphia City Council, working to help our City thrive, make water affordable, give people a fair chance at finding a job, fight wage theft, prevent eviction and ensure that landlords cannot raise the rent without proper notice, save homes, help prevent lead poisoning of children, ensure that the City is safer, and make Philadelphia a better place to live; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED,

That the Council of the City of Philadelphia hereby recognizes, congratulates and honors

the 50 years of excellent work and dedicated service Community Legal Services has given to our City and our community.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Community Legal Services as evidence of the sincere respect and admiration of this legislative body.

End