Impact Litigation & Advocacy

Impact Litigation Unit

Bet Tzedek is uniquely situated to identify emerging systemic trends due to our community relationships with other agencies that serve low-income populations.  The Impact Litigation Unit selects and initiates lawsuits that achieve lasting effects in public policy and litigation, and positively impacts large segments of people within Bet Tzedek’s core practice areas.  Our recent cases include:

• Ongoing litigation against a local municipality for religious discrimination
• Challenging an ordinance’s disparate impact on low income mobile home park tenants
• Ongoing litigation against a bank for unfair and unlawful practices after foreclosure
• Representing tenants challenging the policy of a large property management company which  adversely changes the terms of their tenancies
• Representing  tenants impacted by slum housing conditions following foreclosure

Advocacy

Bet Tzedek advocates for positive systemic change across its service focus areas in the local, state and federal arenas.  Our public policy advocacy includes:

• Sponsorship of legislation to provide greater protections for victims of elder abuse
• Support for enactment of greater protections for renters at the local, state and federal levels
• Advocacy on behalf of victims of human trafficking