2021 AMANI REPORT

PRIORITY AREA: HOUSING & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

KEEPING AN EYE ON LEGAL ISSUES LASWorks to Advance Housing & Economic Goals in Amani The Legal Aid Society re-

closures), pardon applications, and entrepreneurship/business matters.We directly field inqui- ries from residents via Domini- can Center referrals to ensure we are immediately responsive to residents’ legal concerns. We continue to promote our launch of the Eviction Free MKE project to better reach residents on the vital issue of stable rental housing and tenant representation in evic- tion court. Ultimately, Legal Aid’s work helps build capacity of the neighborhood anchor organi- zation, residents, and those working to support and ad- vance housing and economic development goals in the Amani Neighborhood.

mains actively engaged in the Amani Neighborhood through the pandemic. Legal Aid is a partner in the Amani Model Block project (and now the Beta Block), attending bi-weekly meetings with the Dominican Center and lead partners and providing advice and counsel on legal matters as they arise. Additionally, Legal Aid attend- ed a Model Block tour on Sep- tember 1 with special guest U.S. Representative Gwen Moore, along with other partners. Our neighborhood lawyer Joe Riepenhoff represented the agency at a partner meeting at theWisconsin Black Historical Society on September 30. We attended and presented

at an October 2 Tenant Re- source Fair at the Andrew S. Douglas Middle School at 3620 N. 18th Street organized by Alderwoman Milele Coggs. And we rolled up our sleeves and helped out at a Beta Block cleanup event on Saturday, November 13. Legal Aid staff regularly pro- vide legal advice and representa- tion to Amani residents (133 total cases for 53206 in 2021 alone) including on housing security issues (landlord-tenant, code violations, property tax fore-

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