Advocacy Alert: Help Us Secure the Future of Right to Counsel Funding
Since the launch of Right to Counsel–which provides guaranteed legal aid for low-income renters facing eviction–more than 3,800 Connecticut renter households have been served including hundreds of Veterans. This innovative program has gained national recognition, leveling the playing field and making Connecticut a leader in the fight for equal access to justice. Learn more information about Right to Counsel here.
We are grateful that Governor Ned Lamon included $2 million to fund Right to Counsel through the coming year. This money is critical to support legal aid organizations across the state–including CVLC–as we provide free legal services for low-income people who are fighting eviction.
I will be testifying tomorrow, February 13 beginning at 3:30p, on the difference this program has made on the lives of Veterans and on the importance of this funding continuing.
Thank you for your steadfast support of CT Veterans Legal Center, as we work to ensure that all who served have what they need to thrive and contribute to their communities with a sense of self-worth and dignity. You can watch the testimony live on Tuesday, February 13, at 3:30pm via YouTube Live. In addition, some state agency presentations and public hearings may be recorded and broadcast live on CT-N.com.
Photo of Alison Weir by Studio DUDA.
How can you help?
Submit Written Testimony to Your Legislative Representative
Will you join us by submitting written testimony to your representative in support of continued Right to Counsel funding? Sample language is available here.
Representatives love to hear from their constituents about what is important to them, as they have to make difficult choices to ensure Connecticut stays within the “financial guardrails” that have been put in place. We encourage you to share your story or experience, as a tenant and as a member of the community.
Instructions on Submitting Written Testimony
Please submit written testimony using the On-line Testimony Submission Form. The Committee requests that testimony be limited to matters related to the items on the Agenda. Speakers will be limited to three minutes of testimony. The Committee encourages witnesses to submit a written statement and to condense oral testimony to a summary of that statement. All public hearing testimony, written and spoken, is public information. As such, it will be made available on the CGA website and indexed by internet search engines.
Give Live Testimony Virtually
Would you like to join Alison Weir, virtually, to give live testimony via zoom? If you would like to testify, you can sign up to join Alison and testify live on zoom. If you are planning to join us, please send us a note to let us know you’ll be there!
Instructions on Live Testimony
Individuals who wish to testify via Zoom must register using the On-line Testimony Registration Form. Registration will close on Monday, February 12, 2024 at 3:00 P.M. Speaker order of approved registrants will be posted on the Appropriations Committee website on Monday, February 12, 2024 at 6:00 P.M. under Public Hearing Testimony.
If you do not have internet access, you may provide testimony via telephone. To register to testify by phone, call the Phone Registrant Line at 860-240-0033 to leave your contact information.
Share Your Support on Social Media
Social media can be an important tool for social advocacy and getting the word out to the broader community about important things happening in our legislature that effect the Veteran community. Consider posts to your personal pages and encourage your network to also post and share their support of the Right to Counsel program.
Make sure you tag your representatives on your preferred social media platform.
Graphics you can share
