Homeless Advocacy Project

The Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) exists to meet the legal and advocacy needs of homeless individuals and families in Philadelphia. With a legal staff of 13 and a corps of 400 volunteer lawyers, paralegals, and law students, HAP engages in direct outreach to homeless individuals in need of legal services. Each year, HAP conducts 150 annual legal clinics at 25 shelters and soup kitchens located throughout the City. At these clinics, HAP's staff and volunteers meet and interview prospective clients, assess their legal needs, provide advice and referrals for services, and offer on-going legal representation and advocacy to those with more complex problems. HAP currently holds legal clinics at twenty-five homeless shelters and soup kitchens. HAP also makes educational presentations to shelter residents and service providers to inform them of benefits and services available for homeless people, and to empower individuals to obtain benefits and services for themselves. Through these efforts, HAP is often instrumental in helping homeless men and women obtain the access to shelter, income, and services they need to begin making their way to more secure, stable lives.