The Justice & Diversity Center (JDC) recognizes Hope Greenhill as our Volunteer of the Month for her work with JDC’s Housing Negotiation Project, the limited-scope pro bono opportunity of the Eviction Defense Project.

Greenhill has been volunteering with JDC since 2008, and currently works as a contract program manager. Greenhill explained how she recently represented clients in a complicated case in which JDC provided holistic legal and social services in cooperation with other community groups “to achieve a significantly better outcome than if we had not been involved.”

A HUD-subsidized housing provider was trying to evict a disabled mother and her two minor children, one of whom is both physically and mentally impaired from a congenital brain disorder. Although the mother has been drug-free for over 15 years, the housing provider alleged illegal drug use, as well as nuisances that another resident had clearly committed.

Through JDC’s Housing Negotiation Project, Greenhill tried to settle the case before trial, aided by JDC’s staff social services advocate, the mother’s drug counselor, other volunteer attorneys, and family and community members.

Another volunteer attorney defended the clients at trial when the case did not settle. The clients ultimately agreed to a settlement that included the family receiving social services help and happily settling into a new home.

Greenhill enjoys volunteering with JDC because it is intellectually stimulating and allows her to practice her law skills. She also finds her clients’ appreciation gratifying, and says “It’s very cool to come home and know that I helped save someone’s home or at least was able to negotiate more time for the client to move out.”

Get involved: To learn how you can help low-income tenants in San Francisco, please contact probono@sfbar.org.