The Access to Justice Campaign is committed to increasing funds available for civil legal aid programs during the COVID-19 crisis and its aftermath. The stress of this pandemic affects everyone in Michigan, and for the foreseeable future more people than ever will turn to civil legal aid. In the coming months, the economic hardship caused by business closures, illness and lost jobs will create conflicts that only the civil justice system can resolve. More people than ever will miss rent payments that will inevitably lead to eviction if not addressed. And, disputes over medical and consumer debt will skyrocket, as will people being wrongly denied public benefits that can keep their families afloat.
We all know that Michigan is a resilient state and when faced with adversity will ban together and rise above.
Thank you to all Michigan attorneys who donated to the Access to Justice Campaign in the past. The increased donations received during the 2019 campaign have been extremely helpful to legal aid programs and their ability to respond to the immediate legal needs caused by this pandemic. The Michigan legal community plays a vital role in access to justice for low income families by donating to the ATJ Campaign. We share the same common belief that having access to the justice system keeps families safe and allows them to thrive. It is now more important than ever to support the work of civil legal aid programs and protect the livelihoods, homes and safety of low-income families. In 2020, we will rely more on current donors to continue their support and for new donors to join this effort and help the growing number of people in Michigan who will rely on access to the civil justice system.