DC Youth Free Meals Program

During the summer, children and teenagers under 18 years old can receive complementary meals at over 100 locations in DC. Here is a list of locations in your area for the youth meal program. Each DC ward has at least one location available for the program, which is currently in effect and will continue until August 27th, just before the start of school. The program is open to all DC children, and there are no identification or pre-registration requirements. Most sites distribute breakfast and lunch, Monday through Friday. Details vary by site, so be sure to check online before you go.

Additionally, if you are preparing for the upcoming school year, keep an eye out for back-to-school events happening in August and September. These events often distribute free school supplies, book bags, and food. Please be on the lookout for our upcoming newsletter, which will provide updated information to help you stay informed.

Tzedek DC’s Jennifer Holloway on CFPB Medical Debt Panel

On July 11, Jennifer Holloway, an Equal Justice Works Medical Debt Fellow at Tzedek DC, participated with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the National Consumer Law Center, Community Catalyst, and the Colorado Center on Law and Policy in a panel discussion with CFPB Director Rohit Chopra on the issue of medical debt and challenges faced by Americans when using certain high-interest and deferred-interest medical payment products. More than 100 million Americans owe medical debt, and Americans have paid more than $1 billion in deferred interest on medical credit cards, potentially on medical care that rightfully should have been covered by their insurance or offered at a reduced rate via charity care through the provider. 

Medical debt is both the largest category of debt in collections in the United States and the leading cause of bankruptcy, and community members of color in DC are, on average, 300 percent more likely than white residents to be burdened by medical debt. Medical debt not only impacts nearly one in three Americans financially but also affects their future ability to see a physician and receive healthcare. Medical debt can reduce credit scores, increasing the difficulty of renting an apartment, purchasing a vehicle, or even getting a job.

Jennifer, who leads Tzedek DC’s medical debt project, shared the challenges her DC resident clients have managing both their medical debt and their ongoing health and financial needs: “Clients can feel pressured into opening medical credit cards and are often unaware of the high rate of deferred interest, leading to bills that are much higher than anticipated and that they are unable to afford.” 

The CFPB, along with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Treasury, are seeking to understand more about medical billing and collections and the impacts medical payment products have on patients. These federal agencies are interested in a deeper understanding of the specialty medical payment product market, patient experiences and downstream consequences, billing and financial assistance issues, and healthcare provider incentives for offering such payment products. 

Comments are open on the Request for Information until September 11, 2023. 

About Tzedek DC 

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof, or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents. 

Tzedek DC Brings Constitutional Challenge Against DC’s Clean Hands Law

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, Tzedek DC, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP have filed a constitutional challenge to the District of Columbia’s Clean Hands Law on behalf of workers punished by the law for unpaid debt to the DC Government by being disqualified from obtaining occupational and small business licenses.

DC’s Clean Hands Law violates the constitutional rights of financially distressed residents by automatically disqualifying them from occupational and small business licenses as punishment for unpaid fines or fees, the lawsuit says. In doing so, it deprives already distressed families of critical income, reinforces cycles of poverty, and exacerbates racial inequalities.

The suit is brought on behalf of seven individuals. Their stories are told in their sworn declarations, linked to at each of their names in the full story available at the link below.

This story has also been featured in NPR's All Things Considered and an accompanying written article in DCist, available here.

Tzedek DC and UDC Celebrate Renewed Partnership and Hiring of Three UDC Law Alums

Tzedek DC and the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law are jointly celebrating both the formal renewal of their long-standing partnership and Tzedek DC’s recent hiring of three outstanding School of Law alums.

Elsie Daniels is a Staff Attorney at Tzedek DC who focuses on intakes and brief services. Since graduating from the School of Law in 2020, Elsie has worked in the areas of criminal, guardianship, estate planning, domestic relations, and consumer law. Elsie is also a Tzedek DC alum, having volunteered as a student with Tzedek DC starting in 2017 through law school and in 2018 as one of Tzedek DC’s first-ever summer law student interns. Elsie has a passion for helping people reach their financial goals; along with her work at Tzedek DC, Elsie also volunteers with the Financial Fortitude Committee of her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Naji Mujahid Fenwick is a Staff Attorney leading Tzedek DC’s Disabilities Community Project. Naji was born and raised in the DC area and earned degrees from UDC for his undergraduate studies (2013) and from the School of Law (2016). Naji’s lived experiences, including as a person who is neurodivergent, bring an important lens to his disability work in DC. Prior to joining Tzedek DC, Naji worked as a Staff Attorney at Philadelphia Legal Assistance and as an Assistant Public Defender at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. Before becoming an attorney, Naji was an activist-journalist in DC focused on issues of racism and injustice related to crime and punishment.

Melissa Millar joined as Tzedek DC’s first-ever Policy Director and is responsible for leading and facilitating Tzedek DC’s systemic and coalition work related to debt, credit, fines and fees, consumer rights, and related areas at the DC Council, Congress, and other government agencies. Since graduating from the School of Law in 2008, she has gained substantial experience with the legislative and executive branches of the DC government, including having served as the legislative and government affairs representative for DC’s Department of General Services, Legislative Counsel and Analyst for three different DC Council Committees, and Policy Director for Community of Hope.

“We’re thrilled to continue our wonderful partnership with Tzedek DC,” said Dr. Twinette Johnson, Dean of the School of Law. “Since Tzedek DC first launched in 2017 as a public interest center headquartered here, we have been proud to see many UDC students and alumni, including these three talented alums now working full-time at Tzedek DC, contributing to the group’s crucial work fighting for DC residents facing debt, credit, financial abuse, identity theft, and fines and fees-related problems.”

“We’re celebrating both the renewed partnership with the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law under Dean Johnson’s strong leadership and the arrival of these three outstanding colleagues,” said Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Tzedek DC’s Founding President & Director-Counsel. “We have enthusiastically recruited Elsie, Naji, and Melissa and are already seeing that they are terrific additions to our team.”

Tzedek DC Awarded $1M Health Equity Fund Policy Advocacy Grant

Tzedek DC is proud to announce a significant grant from the recently established Health Equity Fund, administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation. The four-year grant, totaling $1,000,000, will support Tzedek DC’s policy advocacy work to catalyze change in DC’s fines and fees and medical debt systems. The award marks the second multi-year grant that Tzedek DC has been awarded; in October 2022, the Health Equity Fund committed $400,000 of funding across two years to support our work addressing the structural and social determinants of health by targeting DC’s racial wealth gap. 

With this latest support, Tzedek DC’s systemic advocacy reform program will scale up to reform debt-related laws in DC that, in effect, criminalize poverty, impose disproportionate burdens on Black and Latino residents, and, by perpetuating DC’s vast racial wealth gaps, pose formidable roadblocks to health equity. 

Ariel Levinson-Waldman, Tzedek DC’s Founding President and Director-Counsel, said, “We are honored to be in a cohort with this extraordinary group of organizations and look forward to using this funding to implement systemic change in the District through our proven coalition-based advocacy approach.” 

“The Community Foundation is proud to support Tzedek DC through the Health Equity Fund,” said Tonia Wellons, President & CEO of The Community Foundation. “Their work to advocate for the reform of DC's medical debt and fines and fees systems is instrumental to addressing the social and structural determinants of health in DC.” 

About the Health Equity Fund

 The $95 million Health Equity Fund is designated to improve the health outcomes and health equity of residents of the District of Columbia. The historic fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents. Created against a backdrop of urgent healthcare needs in the District of Columbia, the Health Equity Fund will be used to address health disparities and social determinants of health for historically underserved District residents.

The Greater Washington Community Foundation was independently selected to manage the Health Equity Fund because of its track record of working with individual donors, businesses, and local government to manage effective community investments and create tangible, lasting change in the region. Health Equity Fund goals align with The Community Foundation’s ongoing work and 10-year strategic vision to close the racial wealth gap by eliminating the historic, racialized disparities in the Greater Washington region.

About Tzedek DC 

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof, or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

NPR Article and Podcast Feature Tzedek DC’s Medical Debt Work 

Tzedek DC was recently featured in an NPR/WAMU article and associated NPR All Things Considered podcast episode on medical debt. The pieces discuss Mayor Bowser’s recent commitment to invest District funds to allow for the cancelation of an estimated $80 million in medical debt for DC residents. 

“For so many, medical debt is not optional,” Tzedek DC’s Founding President & Director-Counsel, Ariel Levinson-Waldman, noted in the article. “Medical debt is a result of your health, and that’s not something we all control.” 

In the podcast clip at the top of the article and beginning at the 2:33 minute mark, he further elaborates on the medical debt as a racial justice and disability justice issue: “It's shouldered disproportionately by members of the disability community who are disproportionately from communities of color in DC.” 

The Mayor’s decision follows recent testimony by Tzedek DC to the DC Council highlighting medical debt and, along with allied organizations, urging swift action to improve the lives of some of the District’s most vulnerable residents. 

Spring Showers: Rainy Day Emergency Fund

An emergency fund is a savings account where you set aside funds for an emergency, such as the loss of a job, an illness, or one of life’s many “what ifs.”

The biggest financial worry for most people is how to pay for unexpected emergencies. It's incredibly hard to avoid unexpected financial emergencies, so the best thing to do is to plan for them. When you have an emergency fund, you will not need to pay for emergencies with credit cards that are not in your spending plan.

Experts recommend saving three to six months of income for a rainy day fund. That can be intimidating, and we acknowledge that half of Americans have less than one month’s income saved for a rainy day, and one in three say they cannot cover a $400 emergency. The good news is that you can start small. Try opening a savings account with $50 or $100 and build your rainy day fund from there.

You may find that $400-$2,000 will cover the majority of minor crises, but costly emergencies may arise. These include situations like: 

  • A trip to the hospital emergency room

  • A surgery that maxes out your insurance

  • A sick pet

  • Your vehicle breaking down

  • Plumbing or electrical problems

  • Your electronics or home appliances need to be replaced

  • You get sick and miss time from work and have no paid time off

Your financial counselor may encourage saving as your single most important financial task! They adhere to the personal finance philosophy of “Pay Yourself First!” Think about it: If you earn the money, shouldn’t you be paid first? If you need assistance setting up a savings account for an emergency fund, reach out to your financial counselor for one-on-one help!

Volunteer Staff Attorney Josh Levin Named to Northwestern Law School Distinguished Alumni

Tzedek DC Volunteer Staff Attorney Josh Levin was recently honored with the Distinguished Alumni award from his alma mater, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. The ceremony recognized his distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Justice and his current work with Tzedek DC. 

After a nearly three-decade career at DOJ, Josh joined Tzedek DC as a Volunteer Staff Attorney in 2019, after seeing a 2017 Washington Jewish Week article about Tzedek DC’s founding. Josh now co-leads Tzedek DC’s efforts on fines and fees reform. Thanks in significant part to Josh’s efforts, the DC government no longer enforces the Clean Hands Law against residents applying to obtain or renew a driver’s license while owing over $100 in fines or fees to the District. 

“Words cannot express how overjoyed and accomplished it makes me feel to finally have completed a milestone in my recent life. And it is because of [Josh] and [Tzedek DC’s] expert attorneys who have been behind the scenes working on behalf of me and thousands more who are in the same predicament." 

— Tzedek DC client Carlotta Mitchell, after working closely with Josh for over 2 years to change the law and allow her to apply again for her driver’s license without fines and fees as a disqualifying obstacle. 

“Josh was instrumental in pushing our fines and fees reform work forward,” said Tzedek DC Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman. “From the release of our 2021 ‘Driving DC to Opportunity’ report to our coalition advocacy and resulting legislative win last summer and the subsequent legal victory in December, we could not have done it without Josh’s commitment, intensely felt sense of fairness, and his talent and expertise. Josh’s award is so richly deserved.” 

Josh and the fines and fees team are now turning their attention to ending Clean Hands enforcement for occupational licenses as well.  

“I am deeply touched that Northwestern honored me for my career at the Department of Justice working as an environmental attorney in environmental law and my current work at Tzedek DC, co-leading our efforts on fines and fees reform,” Josh said. “Thanks to Northwestern and to Dean Hari M. Osofsky for their warm welcome and for the great honor they have bestowed.” 

Josh was one of six honorees selected by Northwestern's Student Funded Public Interest Fellowship Program, a program that lends financial support to law school students planning careers dedicated to public service. Distinguished Alumni honorees are selected for their “outstanding contributions to public service and the legal community over the course of their careers.” 

Josh Levin receiving his award from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Dean Hari M. Osofsky 

Tzedek DC and Coalition Members File Amicus Brief Supporting the Constitutionality of CFPB’s Funding Structure

Tzedek DC and ninety other coalition member organizations from 34 states and DC filed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) independent funding mechanism does not violate the Appropriations Clause of the U.S. Constitution. A finding against the CFPB could plunge the housing and financial markets into chaos by undermining years of consumer protections rulemaking and enforcement. 

The brief, drafted by the UC Berkeley Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, which also organized signatories focused on state and local consumer advocacy, argues that the CFPB’s funding structure is echoed not only among other federal agencies but also, crucially, in dozens of independent state regulatory agencies across the country. Since long before Congress created the CFPB, the States (and DC) have created regulatory agencies with certain self-sustaining funding mechanisms that do not require allocation of taxpayer money. 

The brief explains that the CFPB’s funding scheme, therefore, reflects an unexceptional and well-established federal and state practice to provide fiscal autonomy to particular government agencies, one not likely to conflict with either state constitutions' appropriations provisions or the U.S. Constitution’s Appropriations Clause. Because state courts often look to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions on the federal Constitution to interpret their own constitutions and identically worded appropriations clauses, the brief warns that a decision disapproving of the CFPB’s financial structure could prompt a seismic shift in how the States are permitted to set up and operate their own agencies. 

The amicus brief is here. 

Tzedek DC Testifies on Ending Clean Hands Enforcement for Occupational Licenses

Tzedek DC Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman testified last week before the DC Tax Revision Commission regarding the effects of continued enforcement of the Clean Hands Law for small business and occupational licenses.

While the Clean Hands Law no longer applies to driver’s licenses, it does still disqualify people from renewing or obtaining an occupational or small business license if they owe the District more than $100 in parking, traffic, or other fines or fees. The testimony notes that this creates a poverty trap, preventing indebted people from securing a license to earn the income they need to pay their debts.

Read the full testimony here.

Tzedek DC Awarded $100,000 Principal® Foundation Grant

Tzedek DC is honored to announce a significant grant from Principal® Foundation. The one-year grant of $100,000 will support Tzedek DC’s mission of safeguarding the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with low incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles.

Principal Foundation provides philanthropic support to programs focused on building financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group® operates. Principal Foundation grants target community organizations and social enterprises with funding focused on financial empowerment and needs, including financial health, social and cultural connections, and research.

Tzedek DC carries out our mission as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. We seek to serve and empower our client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

“Tzedek DC is grateful to be in collaboration with the Principal Foundation working together to expand access to justice within our DC community,” said Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman.

“Having a lawyer or financial counselor can make all the difference for individuals and families who are facing problems related to issues like debt, predatory lending, identity theft, and credit report challenges,” says Jo Christine Miles, Director of Principal Foundation and Principal community relations. “The work of Tzedek DC is crucial to ensuring there is support and resources available for communities in need of services such as civil legal advice and financial education to help overcome these challenges. Principal Foundation is pleased to support Tzedek DC’s mission that will continue to positively impact the lives of their clients.”

About Principal Foundation

Principal Financial Group Foundation, Inc. (“Principal Foundation”) is a duly recognized 501(c)(3) entity focused on providing philanthropic support to programs that build financial security in the communities where Principal Financial Group, Inc. (“Principal”) operates. While Principal Foundation receives funding from Principal, Principal Foundation is a distinct, independent, charitable entity. Principal Foundation does not practice any form of investment advisory services and is not authorized to do so.

Principal community relations supports the communities where affiliates of the Principal Financial Group®, Des Moines, IA 50392 operates. Insurance products and plan administrative services provided through Principal Life Insurance Company®, a member of the Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA 50392.

About Tzedek DC 

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black folks, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 2,700 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

It's Financial Literacy Month!

April is National Financial Literacy Month, which is an excellent opportunity to review and grow financial awareness. You are not alone if you believe your financial literacy is lacking; if you are financially literate, do not take it for granted!

Here Are Some Financial Literacy Facts!

  • Few people have a financial education.

  • In most economies around the world, men are taught more about basic financial concepts than women.

  • Loan terms are not always fully understood.

  • Financial literacy classes are lacking in schools.

  • Personal finance skills are important for retirement planning.

  • Half of Americans have less than one month's income saved for a rainy day, and one in three say they cannot cover a $400 emergency.

  • Half of adults say they do not have a spending plan.

  • Sixty percent of Americans say they find it difficult to meet monthly expenses.

How to Advance Financial Literacy

Increase Awareness

Recent economic times have been tough and caused some negative impacts to personal finances, making Financial Literacy Month even more essential. We must continue to increase awareness about the importance of financial literacy.

Offer Financial Education in Schools

A financially educated younger population will make more informed money management decisions.

Make a Personal Vow to Review Your Personal Finances

Get creative and think about ways you can commit to a personalized spending plan and financial improvements. Work toward a financial goal!

A Super Saver’s Advice!

How can you save a portion of your income but also live a more financially comfortable life? Super Savers, like many others, have mortgages or rent, pay for school, and take vacations. They also have financial peace of mind because they have grown a sizable cushion of savings and investments. Some Super Savers' secrets include the following:

  • Set achievable goals for your savings and investments with realistic deadlines.

  • Shop with purpose by asking yourself, "Do I really need it?" to avoid spontaneous purchases, which account for 40% of all purchases.

  • Choose to wait two months before purchasing anything expensive to see if the "need" is still present. To avoid spending money you don't have, avoid debt (such as installment loans for computers, vehicles, TVs, cell phones, electronics, and furniture) and using credit cards. 

  • Reduce spending on expensive items such as homes (not the biggest in the neighborhood) and vehicles (drive older ones) and enjoy creative budget-friendly vacations.

  • Choose to spend wisely on daily expenses by comparison shopping, clipping and using coupons, purchasing cheaper discounted goods and services, and practicing careful planning when it comes to entertainment and expenses.

  • Set up automatic transfers from a checking account to a savings account, a 529 plan for college savings, a retirement account like Roth IRA, and/or a high-yield savings account, and make the maximum contribution to your employer's 401(k) retirement plan. Save more as your income grows.

Tzedek DC Applauds Mayor Bowser’s Decision to Cancel Tens of Millions of Medical Debt

Mayor Muriel Bowser has announced a commitment to fund the cancellation of medical debt held by District of Columbia residents.

The initial investment of $900,000 by DC is expected to allow as much as $90 million in medical debt held by DC residents to be canceled—both ending the patients’ obligation and leading to its removal from their credit reports. With this innovative investment that leverages a modest amount of public funds to accomplish a great deal of social good, DC will become the first state-level government in the nation to use public dollars to cancel medical debt. 

Tzedek DC Founding President and Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman applauded the move: “Mayor Bowser’s commitment to canceling medical debt is a commendable step towards racial and health equity in DC. With local budgets tightening here and around the country, purchasing and eliminating residents’ debt is a cost-effective and immediate way to end one of the most common poverty traps afflicting our neighbors.” 

The Mayor’s decision follows recent testimony by Tzedek DC to the DC Council highlighting medical debt and, along with allied organizations, urging swift action to improve the lives of some of the District’s most vulnerable residents. Tzedek DC’s testimony is available here.

Estimates suggest that more than 90,000 District residents may have outstanding medical debt, with more than 40,000 residents facing a medical debt in active collections. As in the rest of the country, the burden of this medical debt falls disproportionately on residents who are Black or persons of color, who are three times more likely to hold medical debt than white DC residents.

Medical debt is a key driver of overall health, specifically impacting mental health, physical health, financial stability, and health equity. Those with medical debt often forgo further medical care for fear of the expense. Medical debt also negatively impacts residents’ credit. As Mayor Bowser has said, “We know that by addressing the social determinants of health, we can attack disparities in health outcomes, empower families, and transform communities.”

In a recent fact sheet, the White House uplifted the several municipal and county governments that have embraced this strategy to relieve medical debt.

About Tzedek DC, Our Medical Debt Work, and the Health Equity Fund

Tzedek DC’s name is drawn from the ancient Jewish teaching “Tzedek, tzedek tirdof,” or “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Headquartered at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, Tzedek DC’s mission is to safeguard the legal rights and financial health of DC residents with lower incomes facing the often-devastating consequences of debt collection and credit-related obstacles, including those arising from medical debt. This mission is carried out as anti-racism work in response to the massive wealth gaps tracking race in DC and nationwide. Tzedek DC seeks to serve and empower its client base, which is comprised of 90% Black residents, 60% women, and 25% disabled community members. Our strategic approach combines three synergistic activities: (i) free direct services—legal representation and advice, and financial counseling; (ii) working in coalition to make systemic change; and (iii) providing bilingual community legal education on debt collection, identity theft, and credit management. Since 2017, Tzedek DC has served over 3,000 client households in legal matters and catalyzed systemic reforms benefiting hundreds of thousands of DC residents.

A portion of Tzedek DC’s medical debt work is funded by the Health Equity Fund, as administered by the Greater Washington Community Foundation in partnership with the Health Equity Committee. The Health Equity Fund is designated to improve the health outcomes and health equity of residents of the District of Columbia. The historic fund is one of the largest philanthropic funds of any kind focused on community-based nonprofits that serve District residents.  Given that 80 percent of DC’s health outcomes are driven by social, economic, and other factors, compared to just 20 percent by clinical care, the Health Equity Fund adopts an economic mobility frame to address the root causes of health inequity and advances a sustainable network of people, organizations, and projects to ensure equitable health outcomes for Black, Brown, Indigenous, People of Color and other marginalized populations in DC.

We are especially grateful to the Health Equity Fund for the support and shared vision of health equity and racial and economic justice.

Tzedek DC Testifies in Support of Canceling Medical Debt

Tzedek DC Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman, with support from Equal Justice Works Medical Debt Fellow Jennifer Holloway, submitted testimony this week for two Performance Oversight Hearings before the DC Council Committee on Hospital & Health Equity and Committee on Health. The testimonies highlight the efforts of Mayor Bowser, Deputy Mayor Turnage, and the Department of Health Care Finance to relieve medical debt.

As the testimony notes, medical debt is a racial justice and disability justice issue. DC households of color are three times more likely than white households to have medical debt and five times more likely to be uninsured. Additionally, illness is a stronger predictor of medical debt than insurance, making the disabled community particularly vulnerable to medical debt. Because of medical debt, disabled individuals are more likely to forgo future medical care, often worsening their health problems. The scope of the problem is also significant. In the District, more than 90,000 residents may have outstanding medical debt, with more than 40,000 residents facing a medical debt in active collections.

Read the full testimonies here and here.

Tzedek DC Testifies in Support of Access to Justice Initiative

Tzedek DC and Legal Aid DC jointly testified today before the DC Council Committee on the Judiciary & Public Safety at a Performance Oversight Hearing for the DC Office of Victim Services and Justice Grants.

The testimony highlighted the positive impact on consumer justice for DC residents from DC's Access to Justice Initiative as administered by our funding partner, the DC Bar Foundation. The joint testimony focused on the racial equity implications of the issues that the Initiative is supporting in the consumer area, as well as the Initiative's ability to allow providers to respond with a networked strategy to address the expanded scope and needs of consumer work for DC residents, including ensuring residents' rights on paper are translated into justice on the ground under the newly reformed DC debt collection rules.

Read the full testimony here. 

Tzedek DC Testifies in Appreciation of MOLA Partnership

Tzedek DC Senior Advisor Janet Lowenthal testified before the DC Council Committee on Recreation, Libraries, and Youth Affairs Oversight Hearing yesterday regarding the performance of the Mayor’s Office on Latino Affairs (MOLA). Janet’s testimony highlighted our appreciation and support for MOLA and showcased the impact that we have been able to have serving DC’s Latino community as a result of that partnership.

Read the full testimony here.

Seven Items to Prepare for Tax Season

It’s tax season! We can't make taxes go away, but we can help you prepare for them, which will make the process quicker and smoother.

Here is a checklist of items you will need to bring to the table and a list of free local tax preparation sites. 

1. Documents for All Income

This includes:

  • W-2 from your employer(s) for wages.

  • Forms 1099-NEC for any paid independent contractor work. You may need to complete this form yourself.

  • Forms 1099-B to report any income from the sale of stock.

  • Forms 1099-DIV for dividends. 

  • Forms 1099-INT for interest.

  • Forms 1099-MISC for other types of income.

If you have income from one of these sources and have not received the appropriate form, you should reach out to the entity that paid you.

2. Unemployment Income (If Applicable)

If you received unemployment benefits, you will need Form 1099-G from your state. You will need this form whether or not you elected to pay taxes upon receipt of the funds.

3. Unreported Income

If you received less than $600 as an independent contractor, the payer does not have to send you a Form 1099-MISC or 1099-NEC for your work. However, you generally still have to report the amount as self-employment income.

4. Rental Income and Expenses

You must report your income if you earned money by renting out a house or subleasing your apartment. Certain renter-related costs can also be reported, which can help offset some of the rental income. Preparing a list of all the supplies used for maintenance, cleaning, remodeling, or repairs on your rental property is a good idea.

5. Forms for Deductions

Make sure to gather Forms 1098 from lenders for mortgage interest paid and federal student loan payments.

6. Records for Deductible Expenses

You must have records of your spending on eligible expenses to deduct them. For instance, you may need records of moving expenses if you relocated for employment, as well as certain business and daycare expenses.

7. Social Security Disability and Seniors

This year there may not be a lot of benefits for seniors and SSD recipients who are filing federal taxes. However, it is advised to talk to a professional tax consultant for possible state tax credits. Seniors also can receive free tax preparation services through AARP's Tax-Aide program.

Please note the filing deadline to submit 2022 tax returns or an extension to file and pay taxes owed is Tuesday, April 18, 2023!

If you have comments or questions on this or any financial issues, Tzedek DC's Financial Counselor Maritza Cortez can be reached at mc@tzedekdc.org.

Tzedek DC and Venable Win Justice for DC Residents Struggling with Fines and Fees

Pro Bono Legal Team Prevails in Constitutional Challenge on Behalf of DC Residents Unable to Pay Fines and Fees Seeking Driver’s Licenses

In another step forward for fairness in DC’s fines and fees system, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered the DC government to stop enforcing the Clean Hands Law against residents applying to obtain or renew a driver’s license while owing over $100 in fines or fees to the District. In a ruling dated December 27, 2022, the Court granted a motion for preliminary injunction filed by Tzedek DC and Venable LLP in Parham v. District of Columbia. Under the Court’s ruling, DC residents who have been disqualified by the Clean Hands Law from obtaining or renewing a driver’s license can now apply for their license. 

Advocacy by Tzedek DC and its allies had already led to two related successes: the DC Council’s 2018 enactment of legislation ending the suspension of driver’s licenses of residents with outstanding debt and the Council’s 2022 repeal of the application of the Clean Hands Law to applications to obtain or renew a driver’s license. In the Parham case, Tzedek DC and Venable sued on behalf of five DC residents to challenge the continued enforcement of the Clean Hands Law since the Council’s repeal legislation was not effective until October 2023. This court victory ensures that DC’s residents will receive immediate relief from the unfair effects of the Clean Hands Law.

In granting the motion for a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly found that Tzedek DC’s and Venable’s clients demonstrated that they were likely to succeed in their argument that the law violated constitutional guarantees of due process because the District automatically disqualifies individuals from holding a driver’s license with no opportunity for a hearing.

The Court found that “these five Plaintiffs are just some of the tens of thousands of DC residents who have been barred from receiving driver’s licenses under the Clean Hands Law.” Citing a report by the DC Council’s Office of Racial Equity, the Court noted that “ending the application of the Clean Hands Law to driver’s licenses will likely improve… [the] quality of life outcomes for Black residents who have a debt to the District government,” and will “mitigate the burden on D.C. residents with disabilities, those who lack stable housing, and those who are struggling to maintain steady employment.”

Under the terms of the Court’s Order, the DC Government must immediately stop applying the Clean Hands Law to “deny applications to obtain or renew a driver’s license.”

“Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s thorough, well-reasoned decision is an important win for DC residents, fairness, and constitutional rights against punitive debt collection by the Government,” said Tzedek DC Founding President and Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman. “For over 20 years, the Clean Hands Law has forced DC residents of limited means to struggle with essential daily activities like getting to a job, health care appointments, childcare, the grocery store, and the laundromat. It not only punishes DC residents for their poverty but also intensifies the instability of their everyday lives.”

He added, “Residents who have not been able to obtain or renew licenses due to this unconstitutional law can apply immediately. Anyone who has questions about the Court’s ruling or applying for a license or renewal going forward can reach out now to Tzedek DC at info[at]tzedekdc.org or (202) 724-7386.”

Venable Partner Ben Horowitz echoed the importance of the injunction order: “We are pleased for our clients and the thousands of DC residents that can immediately enjoy their constitutional protections and no longer have to wait in limbo for the DC Council’s repeal of the Clean Hands Law to take effect.”

The attorneys representing the DC resident plaintiffs in this suit include Ariel Levinson-Waldman and Joshua Levin of Tzedek DC, as well as Benjamin Horowitz, Claude Bailey, Andrew Dickson, and Spencer Kaye of Venable. They have received terrific assistance from Tzedek DC pro bono legal volunteers Rebecca Azhdam and Jeffrey Nesvet, Equal Justice Works Fellow Jennifer Holloway, Special Assistant Raphy Gendler, and Avodah Jewish Service Corps Member Gali Davar.

Tzedek DC is also grateful for the grant support received for the work in this case from the American College of Trial Lawyers Foundation, which has the apt slogan of “Because Justice Can’t Wait.”

The result in the Parham case is the latest step forward toward achieving fairness in the District’s fines and fees system as a result of coalition advocacy by Tzedek DC, with pro bono partnership from Venable, and anti-poverty, civil rights, faith-based, and consumer justice allies.

  • In 2018, the DC Council legislatively repealed the Department of Motor Vehicles’ practice of suspending driver’s licenses and driving privileges as punishment for unpaid fines and fees.

  • In 2021, Maryland enacted a similar rule, a reform that Attorney General Frosh recently described as one of the things he is proudest of in his long tenure. Tzedek DC and the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington submitted joint testimony supporting the change.

  • In 2022, the DC Council permanently repealed the provision of the Clean Hands Law that until the result in this lawsuit has disqualified tens of thousands of residents from renewing their driver’s licenses. That repeal was made effective only as of October 1, 2023.

  • In 2023-24, Tzedek DC and coalition allies will continue to use the full range of tools toward systemic change. This will include efforts to reform the provisions of the DC Clean Hands Law that continue to punish residents with unpaid fines and fees by automatically disqualifying them from obtaining or renewing a small business license or a vocational license, like that required to be a barber, cosmetologist, food vendor, or nurse, or to engage in one of more than 100 other jobs in DC.

Six Quick Steps You Can Take on Your Finances Before the End of the Year

The holidays are quickly approaching, and they can often be stressful as well as joyful. It can be easy to ignore your financial situation. If you have time and energy for it, what if you updated your money NOW so you could focus more on your other life goals in 2023?

Here are six tips to help put yourself in the best possible position in the new year.

1. Review your Expenses Periodically and Negotiate!

A wonderful routine to establish is to try to do this at the beginning of each season. Start by going over each expense and determining whether you choose to keep the good or service. 

  • Ask yourself, do you really need some of your unused subscriptions? If the answer is no, you might want to prioritize your spending and possibly give up those subscriptions.

  • Review each expense and make a note of any that might be negotiated.

  • Does it seem like your internet bill is getting more expensive every year? Asking for the best rate the service provider can give you over the phone is sometimes all it takes to lessen your amount.

  • It never hurts to inquire about your expenses, and you could be shocked at the extent of your negotiating power! 

2. Analyze Your Income

If you have a job, make a note of your current income and all your achievements so that you have the information necessary to support any requests for a raise or bonus when the time comes.

You can do the same for your service rates or product prices if you own a business or are a freelancer. Reflect on the past few years and continue to strive toward your desired income, even if you have had to reduce the price of your services or goods to maintain a regular income. 

3. Automate!

We all have a lot on our minds right now, so it's not always at the forefront of our minds to worry about whether we remembered to put money in our savings.  

  • Set up automatic transfers from your checking account to your savings account to eliminate the fuss from the procedure. So that you know you have money in your account and won't overdraw, schedule it for a day after payday.

  • It might be as little as $10. Save what you can. Automate everything you can afford to do regularly each month.

  • Making it automatic can ensure that you truly save while helping the habit's effortless development. 

4. Review Current Goals and Create New Ones

Setting goals is crucial for monitoring your progress and financial well-being. At the start of each season, spend some time thinking back on your previous objectives. 

Have you succeeded with them? Give yourself a pat on the back!

Has anything not changed? That's also okay! That simply implies that you might also need to change the way you manage your finances.

5. Examine Your Retirement Accounts

Monitor your retirement accounts occasionally. We don't advise doing it so frequently because retirement is a marathon, not a sprint.

  • Confirm that your asset allocation is adequate and verify that your contributions are not too little or too much based on your retirement goal date as well as your short- and medium-term goals.

  • Confirm that any previous accounts are rolled over to your current account.

  • Find out what charges are being deducted from your account. 

Want to know more about the retirement vehicle that's best for you? Check out this link to learn whether a Roth IRA or 401(k) may be the best fit for you.

6. Organize Your Records!

An essential building block for achieving optimal financial stability is organizing your financial records. 

To begin, look through all your financial records and recycle anything unnecessary. It is unnecessary to keep a paper copy of information if it can be quickly accessible elsewhere, such as online banking statements. It's worth maintaining, though, if it's something that's hard to replace or has legal implications. 

Selecting a storage system is also important. Use a filing cabinet or hard case storage box to arrange paper copies of financial records. Hanging file folders should be clearly marked with information specific to your financial situation. 

  • Most financial records don't need to be kept in hard copy. By scanning papers and uploading them to a cloud server that can be viewed from any of your devices, you may free up a lot of desk and home office space.

  • Make a fast reference guide for yourself and any designated individuals who might need to manage your funds in an emergency situation. 

If you have comments or questions on this or any financial issues, Tzedek DC's Financial Counselor Maritza Cortez can be reached at mc@tzedekdc.org.