Justice For The People Legal Center

THE JUSTICE FOR THE PEOPLE LEGAL CENTER IS WORKING TO BRING A LOCAL ORGANIZING APPROACH TO THE LEGAL WORLD AND PROTECT TENANTS AGAINST PREDATORY LANDLORDS.

DIRECT REPRESENTATION IMPACT LITIGATION: 1. IMPACT LITIGATION COLLECTIVE LAWSUITS AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS TO PROVIDE MATERIAL RELIEF TO THOUSANDS OF TENANTS AS WELL AS TO SET ENFORCEMENT PRECEDENT SHAPE FUTURE LEGISLATION AND BOLSTER SOCIAL MOVEMENT WORK IN GENERAL. 2. INDIVIDUAL EVICTION DEFENSE REPRESENTATION AND LEGAL ADVICE. OVER THE LAST YEAR WE HAVE DIRECTLY REPRESENTED OVER 50 CLIENTS AND ARE CURRENTLY ENGAGED IN OVER A DOZEN CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. OUR IMPACT LITIGATION HAS THE POTENTIAL TO MATERIALLY BENEFIT ALMOST 80,000 HOUSEHOLDS ACROSS COLORADO 17,000 OF WHICH ARE AT 200% OR BELOW THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL. OUR LITIGATION WORK HAS BEEN FEATURED IN OVER 30 MEDIA SOURCES.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT & ORGANIZING: 1. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS CURRICULUM FOR TENANTS AND MOBILE HOME OWNERS. 2. DIRECT ORGANIZING SUPPORT THAT INCLUDES CREATING TENANT AND MOBILE HOME ASSOCIATIONS AND UNIONS SUPPORTING RESIDENTS IN CARRYING OUT DIRECT ACTIONS AND OTHER ORGANIZING TACTICS AS REQUESTED BY THE COMMUNITY. IN THE LAST YEAR WE ORGANIZED 2 MOBILE HOME PARK ASSOCIATIONS TO ELECT RESIDENT COMMUNITY BOARDS AND HAVE DONE OVER 100 COMMUNITY MEETINGS EVENTS WORKSHOPS AND TRAININGS. WE ARE CURRENTLY SUPPORTING GRASSROOTS ORGANIZERS AND LEADERS IN COLORADO SPRINGS GLENWOOD SPRINGS GRAND JUNCTION CLEAR CREEK COUNTY DENVER AND AURORA TO HELP STRENGTHEN THEIR ORGANIZING SKILLS AND PROVIDING SUPPORT TO BUILD VARIOUS GRASSROOT STRATEGIES.

LAND LIBERATION- COLLECTIVE STEWARDSHIP & OWNERSHIP OF LAND & HOUSING: 1. LEGAL AND ORGANIZING SUPPORT TO NEGOTIATE CONTRACTS AND FORM COOPERATIVES COMMUNITY LAND TRUSTS OR OTHER MODELS OF COLLECTIVELY OWNED LAND AND HOUSING. 2. ENFORCEMENT OF OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE LAWS TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS CAN USE THEIR RIGHTS IF THEY DECIDE TO TAKE STEPS TOWARD OWNING THEIR COMMUNITY. WE ORGANIZED A MOBILE HOME PARK IN SOUTHWEST DENVER THAT WENT UP FOR SALE IN 2022 AND WERE ABLE TO WORK WITH THE RESIDENTS AND PARTNERS TO RAISE $11.5 MILLION TO PURCHASE THE PARK AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE LAWS IN COLORADO. SHARING CONNEXION INC. WILL BE THE INTERIM OWNER FOR 1-3 YEARS OR UNTIL THE RESIDENTS ARE PREPARED TO TAKE OVER THE LOANS AND MANAGE THE PARK THEMSELVES. OUR EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WILL BE WORKING WITH RESIDENTS THROUGHOUT THIS TIME PERIOD TO ENSURE RESIDENTS HAVE THE SKILLS THEY NEED TO ORGANIZE THE PARK ON THEIR OWN AND WILL HELP THEM CREATE A COOPERATIVE STRUCTURE THAT MEETS THEIR NEEDS. THIS IS THE FIRST PARK THAT IS SET TO BE RESIDENT OWNED IN THE CITY OF DENVER. WE ARE ALSO SUPPORTING RESIDENTS IN A MOBILE HOME PARK IN GARFIELD COUNTY TO BECOME RESIDENT-OWNED BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ORGANIZING TRAININGS.