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3 Reasons Why Housing Justice is an LGBTQ Issue

December 20, 2019
Atlanta’s lack of affordable housing and booming gentrification are serious problems for all low-income people in our city – but some communities are hit harder than others.

Housing Justice is Racial Justice

August 26, 2018
COLE THALER | August 28, 2018 The word “race” does not appear in AVLF’s mission statement or vision statement, but there’s no question that the work we do on behalf of low-income tenants is racial justice work. Here’s why. 1. Housing inequality in Atlanta is…

Justice for an Asthmatic Child

April 30, 2018
Adriana is a single mother of two. When a mold infestation devastated her apartment, the landlord just told her to keep spraying bleach on the walls - and eventually just painted over it.

Justice Served for Atlanta Waiter

June 21, 2017
Twenty-eight-year-old Morris lived in a freezing, rat-infested basement apartment, barely making ends meet. When he lost his job waiting tables at a local restaurant, his landlord gave him a 30-day notice to move.  But the very next day, Morris came home to find his belongings outside and the locks changed.

PurSHOEing Justice Welcoming Remarks

February 22, 2017
Good evening. My name is Michael Lucas and I have the privilege of being the Deputy Director of the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation. Our Safe Families Office is the place where AVLF – through our volunteers – literally saves lives. By watching – and getting more involved in – the amazing work that we do in that program over my seven years at AVLF, I have learned a lot about intimate partner violence. I have learned that it touches everyone.

Don’t Miss PurSHOEing Justice!

January 30, 2017
The Fourth Annual AVLF PurSHOEing Justice, which is presented by Esquire Deposition Solutions and benefits AVLF’s Safe Families Office, will feature a giant silent auction, exciting vendors, excellent food and drink, and a dynamic guest of honor.

One Step Toward Justice

June 16, 2014

Mrs. Thomas twisted her fingers nervously in her lap. We sat at the kitchen table in her Vine City home, collection notices and court papers spread out before us.

“I wanted to pay the credit card bill,” she told me. “I knew I owed it, and I knew I was supposed to pay. I just didn’t have the money.” Mrs. Thomas called for legal help after she went to the bank to withdraw money and learned that her account had been frozen because of a garnishment.

Pressroom

AVLF Pressroom Welcome to the Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) Pressroom, your resource for media inquiries, press releases, and the latest news about our work. We are committed to advocating for housing stability, survivor safety, and access to justice in Atlanta, and we welcome opportunities…

Careers

Join Our Team At Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF), we believe in the power of advocacy, the impact of community, and the responsibility to stand with those who need us most. Our work is driven by passionate attorneys, social workers, and professionals dedicated to justice,…

Our Impact

OUR IMPACT Fighting for Justice and Equal Legal Access For 45 years, AVLF has been a civic problem solver, an innovator, and a trusted partner in the fight for justice. Our mission has always been clear: to ensure that every person—regardless of income—has access to…

Our Volunteers

Our volunteers fight tirelessly for a fairer and more equitable Atlanta. We thank our volunteers for their unwavering commitment to the fight for equal justice. Whether it’s staffing the Housing Court Assistance Center, representing a survivor in TPO court, or sending demand letters to unethical…

Safe Families Office (SFO)

Courthouse based resource that provides temporary protective orders for survivors of intimate partner abuse.

Saturday Lawyer Program (SLP)

A volunteer-powered program offering free legal advice and representation to low-income tenants with housing disputes, unpaid wages, and more.

Standing With Our Neighbors (SWON)

A place-based advocacy program that embeds legal and community support in schools and neighborhoods to prevent eviction and improve housing conditions.

Dollars for Judgments

Connects creditors’ rights attorneys with low-income clients who have won a judgment due to harm or injustice, helping them recover what they’re owed.

Community Support & Prevention (CSP)

The CSP team is a vital resource for our work at AVLF, ranging from tenants’ rights and access to counsel to resources for survivors of intimate partner abuse.

Sarah Babcock

Sarah Babcock is the Managing Attorney of the Saturday Lawyer Program, which connects tenants experiencing housing issues with legal advocacy, information about their rights, and representation by pro bono attorney volunteers. Sarah supports clients and volunteer attorneys in advocating for safe, stable, and sanitary housing…

Angel Caldwell

Angel started with AVLF as a volunteer paralegal with the Saturday Lawyer Program.  Her love and passion for helping others led to her role here as a Safe and Stable Homes Paralegal with our Saturday Lawyer Program.  Angel manages case placement and functions as the…

Angela Skeete

Angela provides assistance to the managing attorney for the Housing Court Assistance Center with drafting documents, maintaining and organizing files, tenant intake and fact-gathering. She supervises law students and paralegal volunteers. Angela graduated of Georgia Piedmont College with an associates in Paralegal Studies and graduate…

Charlette Woodall

Charlette Woodall is the Paralegal for the Intimate Partner Abuse Program. Charlette mainly handles motions regarding protective orders and provides assistance to our volunteer attorneys for the program. Charlette graduated from the University of West Georgia and obtained her B.A. in Philosophy. She also attended…

Michael Lucas

Michael became AVLF’s Deputy Director in January 2014, and stepped into the role of Executive Director in 2020. Previously, he served as the Director of Housing and Consumer Programs, managing a variety of programs that provide legal representation to low-income individuals. He litigated in the…

Domestic Violence / Intimate Partner Abuse

If you’re experiencing abuse, we can help. Our team provides free legal assistance to file a Temporary Protective Order (TPO) and connect you with resources to ensure your safety and stability.

Our Purpose

At Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF), we believe no one should have to stand alone when fighting for their rights. That’s why we stand with, for, and in support of Atlantans as they demand safe and stable housing and freedom from intimate partner abuse. As…

AVLF Conducts Training with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP

August 29, 2024
(June 8, 2024) The Safe and Stable Families team at the ATL Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF) had the privilege of partnering with Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP to conduct a comprehensive Intimate Partner Abuse training. This session was an important step in our ongoing…

AVLF Builds Community Connections at National Night Out

August 29, 2024
This August, Atlanta Volunteer Lawyer Foundation (AVLF)  had the privilege of participating in National Night Out. This annual community-building campaign plays a crucial role in fostering strong partnerships between law enforcement and the communities they serve. This event is instrumental in enhancing neighborhood safety and creating…