Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program (CHLAP)

The Cleveland Homeless Legal Assistance Program (CHLAP) is a program of the CMBA.  It works with the Northeast Ohio Coalition for the Homeless (NEOCH) and focuses on the legal issues that are of concern to those in Cleveland who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless.  The program offers an important service to the individuals in need by providing access to justice through brief advice and counseling clinics at regularly scheduled times in shelters and social service sites where they reside or gather for meals and other service.

CHLAP aims to provide pro bono legal assistance to homeless and at-risk individuals. Volunteers provide a variety of services, including shelter site intake interviews, brief advice, and information service, and direct representation in matters requiring further assistance. Volunteers help individuals with civil legal issues, including driver's license reinstatement, credit problems, criminal record expungement, landlord-tenant problems, public benefits, and family law. Training, resources, and mentors are available to volunteers. Malpractice insurance coverage is also available through the program's volunteer policy.

CHLAP is in need of volunteer lawyers to assist with the clinics and accept ongoing representation. CHLAP offers training and support to new volunteers, who may choose to shadow experienced volunteers or be accompanied by another volunteer for their first few sessions. Attorneys may volunteer at varying levels of commitment, from helping with intake interviews and providing brief advice to accepting referrals for direct extended representation.

Staffed by the Lawyers Guild of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Sponsored by the CMBA.

Contact konders@clemetrobar.org to volunteer.