Virtual Event – Mass & Cass and the Crisis of Homelessness: The Interaction of Mental Health, Addiction, and the Law in the Lives of People Without Permanent Housing

From the Boston Bar Association:

The Mass and Cass humanitarian crisis, and, more generally, the crisis of homelessness in Greater Boston, has attracted wide media and public attention. This panel discussion, which brings together experts with direct experience in the field, will shed much-needed light on the many legal dimensions of this crisis. LSC attorneys Daniel Nagin and Julie McCormack will be among the speakers.

Among other questions, the panels will address:

• The root causes of homelessness in Boston
• The role of public health law in governmental and nonprofit responses
• The civil rights, the civil legal needs, and the criminal law needs of persons who are without housing
• The variety of roles lawyers are currently playing in responding to the crisis
• The many ongoing opportunities that exist for lawyers and other legal professionals to provide pro bono assistance to those who are without housing and to those who may be newly housed

In addition, the panels will also consider the important role of collaboration in the legal profession’s response; numerous disciplines—healthcare providers, social workers, public health experts, social service and housing organizations, and others—have long played, and continue to play, a central role in addressing homelessness.

Program agenda:

• Opening Remarks: 1:30pm-1:40pm
• Panel 1 and Q&A: 1:40pm-2:30pm
  • Mass & Cass and the overlapping root causes of the houselessness crisis
• Panel 2 and Q&A: 2:30pm-3:20pm
  • Overcoming existing barriers to services and opportunities for pro bono work
• Closing Remarks and Next Steps :3:20pm-3:30

This program is free and open to non-BBA members. Non-BBA members must click “log in to attend” and create a BBA guest account to register.

This program is co-sponsored by:

• Massachusetts Association for Mental Health
• Massachusetts Society of Addiction Medicine
• Massachusetts Family & Probate American Inn of Court
• Prisoners’ Legal Services
• WilmerHale Legal Services Center

BBA Webinars & Virtual Events are supported by the Joan B. DiCola Fund. To learn more or support this fund, click here .