City of Philadelphia - File #: 160250

• File #: 160250
• Version: 0
• Type: Resolution
• Status: ADOPTED
• File created: 3/31/2016
• In control: CITY COUNCIL
• Final action: 3/31/2016
• Title: Recognizing, congratulating, and honoring Community Legal Services on its 50th Anniversary.
• Sponsors: Councilmember Quiñones Sánchez, Councilmember Greenlee, Councilmember Jones, Councilmember Gym, Councilmember Green, Councilmember Domb, Councilmember Taubenberger, Council President Clarke, Councilmember Oh, Councilmember Johnson, Councilmember Bass, Councilmember Reynolds Brown, Councilmember Blackwell, Councilmember Squilla, Councilmember O'Neill, Councilmember Henon

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result	Tally
3/31/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	Introduced and Ordered Placed on This Week's Final Passage Calendar	Pass
3/31/2016	0	CITY COUNCIL	ADOPTED

Title
Recognizing, congratulating, and honoring Community Legal Services on its 50th Anniversary.

Body
WHEREAS, The dedicated staff members at Community Legal Services (CLS) fight for the most vulnerable people in our City, including children, the elderly, immigrants and people with disabilities, bringing power to the powerless in their quest for justice; and

WHEREAS, For 50 years, Community Legal Services has opened its doors to low-income Philadelphians in need, helping more than one million residents who would have otherwise faced devastating consequences such as eviction, foreclosure and loss of employment; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services stands up for thousands of Philadelphians each year, preventing homelessness, reuniting families, breaking down barriers and keeping our residents healthy and our City safe; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services is recognized as one of the premier legal services programs in the nation; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services does incredible work to close the justice gap, changing lives and helping our entire community by ensuring that excellent lawyers aren't only available to those who can afford them; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services brings millions of dollars into the City; expands access to health insurance for the uninsured; keeps low income people in their homes with the utilities turned on; prevents improper loss of critical benefits like Social Security, SSI, Food Stamps and welfare assistance; protects the rights of the elderly and has pioneered the elimination of employment barriers such as criminal records; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services reduces strain on City resources and helps people become self-reliant by helping people get jobs, collect the wages they are owed and access the benefits they are entitled to; and

WHEREAS, Community Legal Services has been a vital resource and a frequent partner to Philadelphia City Council, working to help our City thrive, make water af...