LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness (MCAH), a statewide, non-profit membership organization committed to addressing homelessness and affordable housing, is proud to recognize the accomplishments of our Public Policy Champion at our 6th Annual Breakfast of Champions.
This year we are honored to recognize the accomplishments of Justin Babbitt, staff attorney at Legal Services of South Central Michigan in Lansing. Babbitt is a housing attorney who focuses on eviction and public housing and also spearheads the Livingston County Eviction Diversion Program (EDP). Since its inception in 2016, evictions in Livingston County have dropped from over 1,000 per year down to 50. This has had a direct correlation in lowering the amount of homeless individuals, especially those most at risk for eviction, such as single mothers, domestic violence victims, and persons of color in Livingston County. Babbitt has represented over 700 persons in five different counties facing eviction and homelessness.
“Justin is a constant voice raising awareness about his clients who are experiencing housing stability in front of judges, magistrates, referees, and other legal system professionals in the courts of five mid-Michigan counties. He takes every opportunity he can to advocate for policy and systems change on behalf of individuals who are experiencing homelessness” noted Elizabeth Abdnour, Esq.
Babbitt also serves as the Vice-Chair of the Livingston County Homeless Continuum of Care and Chair of the Livingston County Housing Stability Task Force in an effort to reduce homelessness and help reshape the current housing issues in the county.
“Justin’s work on housing instability is making a long-term difference in the lives of families facing eviction and homelessness in the region.” stated Eric Hufnagel, executive director of the Michigan Coalition Against Homelessness. “Without the legal assistance of Eviction Diversion Programs such as the one Justin created, hundreds of families would be alone in the courtroom and facing eviction, homelessness, and costly fees that would prevent them from transitioning into secure and affordable housing.”
The Breakfast of Champions is an annual event celebrating the accomplishments of the over 600 agencies working to end homelessness in Michigan. The Public Policy Champion is awarded to an individual or agency exemplifying and embodying advocacy and/or awareness efforts that have a direct positive impact on the issue of homelessness. This year Fred Karnas, Senior Fellow at The Kresge Foundation and board member of Funders Together to End Homelessness, will be the guest speaker.
You may contact Legal Services of South Central Michigan at: (517) 394-2985, or their website at: https://lsscm.org/ [lsscm.org].
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