The most marginalized families in Philadelphia will face long-term financial and social hardships through no fault of their own. It is imperative that this body act to protect its constituents and ensure housing stability to preserve the health and economic well-being of Philadelphia tenants.
If you are a leader of a legal services or tenant organization in Philadelphia who would like to add your organization as a signatory on this statement, contact George Donnelly at gdonnelly@pubintlaw.org. March 12, 2020 — We fully support the resolution introduced today by Councilmember Gym calling for a moratorium on evictions. While our organizations […]
January 24, 2020 — If affordable housing developments supported by taxpayers are going to effectively serve low-income families, these families must not be forced out when the landlord’s contract with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) ends. Last month, Public Interest Law Center Attorneys, George Donnelly and Dan Urevick-Ackelsberg filed an amicus brief […]
On November 14, 2019, Philadelphia City Council passed legislation granting a right to counsel for low-income renters in eviction court, becoming the fifth city in the country to do so. Our former client, Curtis Shiver, who faced a retaliatory eviction, testified in favor of the bill.
Proposed rules from the Trump administration’s department of Housing and Urban Development would gut crucial protections against seemingly neutral housing policies and practices that have discriminatory impacts or increase residential segregation. We submitted two public comments in opposition to this proposed rule change.
On July 9, 2019, the Public Interest Law Center submitted comments to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) about its proposed rule changes regarding “verification of eligible status,” which would deny public housing assistance to tens of thousands of eligible children and their families – including those in the Philadelphia area. This proposed […]
Brenda Harrison, Pelham Court LP, and Rushmore Management are pleased to announce the amicable resolution of the federal Fair Housing Act litigation between the parties, styled as Harrison v. Pelham Court, et al, No. 18-3431. As part of that settlement, Pelham Court and Rushmore Management have adopted written policies regarding compliance with applicable federal, state […]
GEORGE DONNELLY’S PREPARED TESTIMONY BEFORE CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 28, 2018 – Good morning councilmembers, it is a privilege to testify here today. My name is George Donnelly and I am an attorney at the Public Interest Law Center. In my practice, I represent tenants fighting to assert their legal rights to safe, habitable housing. I’m […]
On May 8, a group of civil rights and fair housing groups sued the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and its secretary Ben Carson, alleging that the department had illegally suspended a 2015 rule requiring cities to affirmatively further fair housing (AFFH) in their housing plans. The AFFH rule requires local governments […]
George Donnelly testified on the lack of a retaliatory eviction law in Pennsylvania.
