The Skid Row Community ReFresh spot is a public safe space where showers, restrooms and laundry facilities are available 24/7 to those who need it. Social service connections can also be made here, and every third Thursday of the month, court is in session.
“This is so important to bring the court where the clients are,” explained Marcus M. Huntley, with the Department Of Collaborative and Restorative Justice for the L.A. Public Defender’s Office.
Community Outreach Court, first launched as a pilot project in September of last year, is the first program of its kind in the city of Los Angeles. The program focuses on criminal misdemeanor matters affecting the homeless in a community setting through a laptop instead of a courtroom.
“The best thing is that we come to the client. We’re here for the clients. They don’t have to find us. They don’t have to go to the courthouse to find us. We’re here to find them,” Huntley said.
“You can imagine when you’re called for jury duty, it’s hard enough for us to navigate the court system,” said Cynthia Gonzalez, the supervising attorney for the Community Outreach Court. “Now imagine somebody that has to drag their home with them to get to court.”
The Latino community registers a substantial increase in homelessness
Write a Reply or Comment
You should Sign In or Sign Up account to post comment.