“Barbara” sought ALRP’s assistance when the Social Security Administration (SSA) unreasonably found her to be at fault for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) overpayments. Barbara started receiving her SSI payments years ago because of her HIV/AIDS-related disabilities and her diagnosis of breast cancer. When she returned to work, she immediately reported her work information to the SSA. However, the SSA failed to adjust her SSI payments accordingly, resulting in Barbara’s overpayment. Even though Barbara did what she was supposed to do, she was found to be at fault for causing the SSI overpayment, all while she was undergoing intensive radiation therapy.

Insurance Attorney Lynnette Baclig jumped into action and helped Barbara file a waiver for these overpayments. Lynnette later appeared on Barbara’s behalf at the local SSA district office and successfully advocated for Barbara’s case to appear before an administrative law judge. Due to COVID-19 shelter-in-place orders, the hearing was postponed several times. After several long years of waiting for an in-person hearing, Barbara finally received a favorable decision from the judge, which granted the waiver and forgave Barbara’s overpayment debt.

“This decision is especially meaningful to Barbara now that she’s once again unable to work due to her disabilities. Barbara can now use her full SSI to pay for her basic necessities.” – Insurance Attorney Lynnette Baclig

Dear Friends,

As ALRP enters its 40^th year of service to the HIV community, we reflect on our history with pride and appreciation of the legal community’s caring response to the AIDS epidemic. We could not do all that we do without the support of our Panel Attorneys, dedicated staff, and generous donors and volunteers.

Right now, more than 16,000 people in San Francisco are living with HIV. While the legal needs of ALRP’s clients have changed since our founding in 1983, ALRP has worked to meet those new challenges. Just last year, ALRP handled over 2,269 cases for over 1,300 clients living with HIV. We held 21 trainings for service providers and 33 educational presentations for clients. We provided 11 MCLE trainings for 287 attorneys and recruited 14 new attorneys to the Panel.

Our clients are living much longer than we ever might have imagined in the early years of the epidemic. But they are living with decades of trauma, the loss of their familial connections, and with the stress of extreme poverty. Almost 60% of our clients are people of color, 85% are LGBTQ, and over 90% are living with very low incomes.

ALRP’s services often have a direct impact on our clients’ lives. With over 75% of people living with HIV in San Francisco at risk of homelessness, ALRP has developed a robust eviction defense practice.

The ALRP Team at the Annual Reception in October 2022

A recent success story that exemplifies our work:

“Peter” was served with an eviction lawsuit after he was unable to pay his rent due to a job loss stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. A former substitute teacher in San Francisco, Peter faced the loss of his 17-year tenancy after losing his job and having no income to pay for his rent.

When Peter sought assistance from ALRP, we immediately began advocating for him, helping Peter to apply for benefits and a housing subsidy that would allow him to afford his rent while he searched for new employment. We also secured a settlement agreement that allowed Peter to stay in his home. With ALRP’s help, Peter was able to clear any outstanding balance with his landlord through rental assistance programs. Peter now feels confident returning to the job market with secure housing.

More than 10% of ALRP’s legal work

now involves immigration cases.

Being granted asylum in the U.S. is life changing. One’s chances of obtaining asylum are difficult to predict, and it is essential to have a good attorney by your side. We want to take a moment to share a recent ALRP success with you:

Our client “Fernando”, originally from El Salvador, came to us for assistance with his asylum case as a HIV-positive, bisexual man fleeing persecution in his home country. Under asylum law, a foreign national must apply for asylum within one year of arriving in the U.S.—a challenging requirement for many. They may still be eligible, however, if they can demonstrate a changed circumstance which materially affects their eligibility for asylum. Though Fernando had been in the United States for over one year, with our help he was successfully able to prove a qualifying changed circumstance—his recent HIV diagnosis—and he was ultimately granted asylum.

ALRP at 40

Looking ahead, we are already planning for the observance of ALRP’s 40^th anniversary. It is always our goal to bring both meaning and purpose to our constituents as we seek to keep those living with HIV housed, insured, healthy, and safe.

There is a unique opportunity to take a pause in our daily work and recognize that our success is the result of generations of leadership, volunteerism, and dedication to the most vulnerable in our community — which is as true today as it was in 1983. Please stay tuned for more opportunities to be involved in our work during the observance of this landmark year.

We are especially grateful for our most generous supporters, many of whom have been in the fight with us against HIV for decades and share in our commitment. ALRP was fortunate to benefit from the generous support of leading Bay Area Law firms, corporate partners like Gilead Sciences, AIDS Walk SF, Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights, and the Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation who host the annual Real BAD event.

Since our founding in 1983, more than 95,000 civil legal matters for people with HIV/AIDS have been handled with care, compassion, and expertise. I hope you will take a moment to reflect on the successes that you make possible and find a way you can join us for some of the events we are planning this year.

From the heart, Bill Hirsh, Esq. Executive Director

At the AIDS Legal Referral Panel, we strive for a world where everyone has access to safe and affordable housing, quality healthcare, and their basic needs met. Now nearing our 40th year of service to the community, ALRP continues to mobilize the legal community to address the needs of people living with HIV and fight to ensure that they remain housed, insured, employed, and healthy. Thanks to the generous support of our donors, this year we were able to serve over 1,300 clients in over 2,200 legal matters.

Recently, we provided representation to a disabled, long-term tenant “Michael” when a default judgement had already been entered against him and the sheriff was scheduled to evict him the following week. The landlord refused to negotiate with ALRP’s Housing Attorney, so we went to court and filed a motion to set aside the default judgement. We won! We then negotiated a favorable settlement agreement and saved our client’s housing.

Successes like this one only happen because of you and our caring community that is committed to our work. We are especially grateful to our government partners, private foundations, community partners, Annual Reception event sponsors and auction donors, and our donors. As we approach the New Year, we want to extend our deepest gratitude and thank you all for making our work possible.

From the heart,

Bill Hirsh, Esq.
Executive Director

Thank you to our Government Partners:
San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco Mayor’s Office of Housing and Community Development, San Francisco Department of Disability and Aging Services, and the State Bar of California

Thank you to our Private Foundation Funders:
Arthur & Charlotte Zitrin Foundation, Bay Area Physicians for Human Rights, Bigglesworth Family Foundation, California Access to Justice Commission, California ChangeLawyers, Deupree Family Foundation, Gilead Sciences Foundation, Horizons Foundation, JW & HM Goodman Family Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, Max & Victoria Dreyfus Foundation, Sidney Stern Memorial Trust, van Löben Sels/RembeRock Foundation, Venable Foundation, and Wells Fargo Foundation

Thank you to our Community Partners:
AIDS Walk San Francisco, Community Thrift, and Grass Roots Gay Rights Foundation

Thank you to our Annual Reception Law Firm Sponsors:

Presenting Sponsor
Gilead Sciences

Supreme Court Sponsors
Kirkland & Ellis LLP, Morrison Foerster Foundation, and Wilson Sonsini Foundation

Advocates Court Sponsors
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP, and Shartsis Friese LLP

Circuit Court Sponsors
Hanson Bridgett LLP; Jones Day LLP; Keker, Van Nest & Peters LLP; Nixon Peabody LLP; Seyfarth Shaw LLP; WilmerHale; and Venable LLP

District Court Sponsors
Cooley LLP; Creitz & Serebin LLP; Durie Tangri LLP; Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP; Farella Braun+Martel LLP; Fenwick & West LLP; Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP; Horizons Foundation; Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood; King & Spalding LLP; Latham & Watkins LLP; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP; Perkins Coie LLP; Reed Smith LLP; and Rogers Joseph O’Donnell, PC

Community Court Sponsors:
Arnold & Porter; BALIF; Bracamontes & Vlasak, PC; Callaway & Wolf; Clarence Dyer & Cohen LLP; DLA Piper; Holland & Knight LLP; Lewis & Llewellyn; Roberts Disability Law; Renaker Scott LLP; Stoel Rives LLP; Swanson & McNamara LLP; Trucker Huss APC; and Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger

Thank You!

We are so grateful to our community.

“Peter” was served with an eviction lawsuit after he was unable to pay his rent due to a job loss stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. A former substitute teacher in San Francisco, Peter faced the loss of his 17-year tenancy after losing his job and having no income to pay for his rent.

When Peter sought assistance from ALRP, Director of Housing Litigation Jeff Dulgar immediately began advocating for Peter. Jeff helped Peter to apply for benefits and a housing subsidy that would allow him to afford his rent while he searched for new employment. Jeff also secured a settlement agreement that allowed Peter to stay in his home. With Jeff’s help, Peter was able to clear any outstanding balance with his landlord through rental assistance programs. Peter now feels confident returning to the job market with secure housing.

Director of Housing Litigation, Jeff Dulgar

“As we continue to witness the fallout from the COVID-19 Pandemic, now more than ever, tenants living with HIV need our help to defend against unjust evictions and stay in their homes. I am so glad we were able to defend this long-term tenancy, and connect our client with the services he needs to stay housed.”  –Jeff Dulgar, Director of Housing Litigation

ALRP’s Staff Attorney Stephen Spano was one of several impassioned speakers at the December 1 World AIDS Day rally on the steps of San Francisco City Hall on Thursday night. Here are his insightful remarks

Our friends at Real Bad do a lot of good

“Jorge” had lived in his apartment for over a decade when a new landlord bought his property. Having had a good relationship with his former landlord, Jorge was distraught when problems with his new landlord began.

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Well-deserved recognition for Bill Hirsh, a thoughtful and passionate advocate.

When longtime ALRP Panel Attorney Nancy Lofdahl accepted Marty’s case, she had no idea it would take five long years to resolve. Read More »

ALRP Awards Jose Marin Law as Law Firm of the Year at the ALRP Auction & Reception in October 2022.

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