Dear supporter, As 2022 draws to a close, we're taking a moment to reflect on what we've accomplished, to look ahead to the fights still to come, and to say thank you. Steadfast support from people like you has allowed us to persist in the pursuit of justice, taking on poverty and discrimination through the law, for more than 50 years. You can help us continue to do the most important work with a recurring monthly membership contribution. Your membership will give us the sustainable support we need to stand up for civil, social and economic rights in Philadelphia and beyond. One-time contributions are also appreciated.

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Members and supporters of Renters United Philadelphia at a rally in Frankford on December 17 All members will receive special updates and invitations to exciting programming in 2023. Your support helps us stand with Philadelphians who are fighting for their communities. The holiday season reminds us of the vital importance of having a home with safety and dignity, one where we can gather together with friends and family. But too many renters in Philadelphia are denied the homes they deserve, faced with intolerable disrepair and neglect, landlords who refuse to maintain their properties, and City officials that are too often unable to enforce laws that promise safe and healthy housing.

On December 17, members of Renters United Philadelphia, an organization we launched and host, stood up to landlords and City of Philadelphia officials at a rally in Frankford. Tenants demanded repairs for longstanding issues from their landlords, City investment in programs to protect tenants and prevent displacement, and proactive enforcement of housing code laws from the City of Philadelphia to stop letting landlords off the hook. 6ABC reported on the action and noted that only 7% of rental units in Philadelphia are inspected each year, according to a 2021 Pew report. At the Law Center, we have always recognized that equal justice under the law cannot be achieved in the courtroom alone. All of us are inspired by the organizing work of the tenants of Renters United Philadelphia (RUP). Living in communities that have borne the brunt of disinvestment and exploitation for decades, RUP members are standing together not just to demand better for their families, but to fight for changes to policy and practices that will benefit renters across Philadelphia.

Our attorney Michael Churchill behind the scenes at the PA school funding trial 2022 was a momentous year for the Law Center. In March, the trial in our case challenging Pennsylvania's unconstitutionally inadequate state funding for public schools reached its conclusion, followed by post-trial oral argument in July. Now, we wait for a court decision that could change the future for Pennsylvania's children. It's time for our state legislature to fund public schools in every corner of Pennsylvania like they believe in the potential of the children who attend them. In September, we filed an appeal in our case taking on Pennsylvania's firearm preemption laws, which block local officials from passing many gun safety ordinances. That case is now headed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. And we continued our work standing up to source of income discrimination, taking on the widespread bias and discrimination faced by Housing Choice Voucher renters in Philadelphia. Now there's a new way to keep up with these impactful cases. We've launched a series of short videos on Instagram, featuring our attorneys explaining the nuts and bolts of our work in the courtroom. Check out the first video in the series, featuring senior attorney Ben Geffen, and follow us on Instagram @publicinterestlawcenter. Please consider sharing these with your friends and colleagues--they are a great introduction to our work!

None of this would be possible without supporters and friends like you. Your monthly membership or one-time donation allows us to stand alongside the renters, educators, and workers fighting for the future we deserve in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. A future where no one is denied the fundamental resources they need to build their lives--safe housing, quality public schools, and more--because of poverty, racial discrimination, or where they live.

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If you have not yet contributed to support our work, now is the time! All donations received by midnight on December 31 are tax deductible for 2022. Thank you, and we wish you a safe and happy New Year!  Sincerely,

Brenda Marrero Executive Director, Public Interest Law Center