Letter from the Editors
Georgetown Journal on Fighting Poverty published its first issue in November of 1993. During this time, our nation was deciding how to serve its most vulnerable populations. Its creation was in response to new social programs being enacted. The Journal began to fill the crucial gap of all areas of poverty law and reimagined how […]
The Need for Affirmative Legislation Supporting Community Land Trusts in Washington, D.C.
Housing has become increasingly unaffordable, especially in cities like Washington, D.C. Wage growth has not kept up, meaning that more households must spend a larger portion of their income to keep a roof over their heads. Government programs addressing affordable housing are innumerous, yet many individuals still face housing costs that are too high. At […]
The Case Against Rental Application Fees
Rental application fees have become exceedingly common throughout the United States rental market, with housing seekers routinely paying anywhere from $30 to over $50 per adult just to apply for admission. These fees are typically justified as compensation for a landlord’s costs in conducting background screening on applicants—though certain consumer rights abuses are common, such […]
Expanding the Federal Work Product Doctrine to Unrepresented Litigants
Clerks’ offices in federal courthouses across the country designate individuals who do not have counsel as “pro se,” a term that comes from the Latin in propria persona meaning “for oneself.” The term is ambiguous as to the reasons why individuals appear without counsel. While some may purposefully choose not to hire a lawyer, for […]
From Crowdfunding to Crypto: The Changing Nature of Work and New Operational Challenges for Social Security’s Disability Benefits Programs in the 21st Century
The Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs provide economic support to individuals who are unable to work due to one or more medical disabilities. Amendments to the 1935 Social Security Act created the SSDI and SSI programs in the 1950s and 1970s, respectively. These programs define […]
It Takes A Village: Pathways for Achieving Access to Doula Services for Medicaid Enrollees
The United States is facing a maternal health crisis, and one that has a disparate impact on communities of color. Doula services can be an effective tool to reduce maternal health disparities. There are a number of pathways that have been and can continue to be leveraged to provide doula services to Medicaid enrollees. To […]
Maternal Substance Use: How the MLP Model Can Address Issues Surrounding Mandatory Reporting Laws
Prenatal exposure to controlled substances can have devastating effects on a child’s life outcomes and development. The villainization of addiction has produced mandatory reporting laws that impose harsh civil and criminal penalties on women who use substances while pregnant. While politicians and policymakers claim to be acting in the best interest of children when enacting […]