National Consumer Law Center Inc

SEE SCHEDULE O

PROMOTING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE WITH LOW-INCOMES BY INCREASING ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE HOUSING AND HOMEOWNERSHIP, UTILITIES, AND CAR OWNERSHIP.TO REDUCE THE OBSTACLES PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES ENCOUNTER IN OBTAINING SAFE HOUSING AND ESSENTIAL TRANSPORTATION, NCLC DEVELOPS AND ADVOCATES REFORMS TO PROMOTE ACCESS TO FAIR LENDING AND HOUSING LAWS, FORECLOSURE AVOIDANCE PROGRAMS, AND AFFORDABLE ACCESS TO UTILITIES. CARS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR MANY FAMILIES TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC MOBILITY, SO NCLC ALSO PROMOTES EFFECTIVE CAR OWNERSHIP PROGRAMS AND COMBATS MISLEADING AND DISCRIMINATORY SALES AND LENDING PRACTICES. A FOCUS ON ADVANCING EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE IS INTEGRAL TO THIS ADVOCACY, AS SYSTEMIC RACISM IN HOUSING, MORTGAGE AND AUTO LENDING HAS LONG PREVENTED CONSUMERS OF COLOR FROM ACCESSING ECONOMIC AND WEALTH-BUILDING OPPORTUNITIES, LEADING TO HIGHER RATES OF POVERTY, LACK OF HOUSING, A PERSISTENT WEALTH GAP, COMMUNITY DISINVESTMENT, AND OTHER ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES.

PROTECTING LOW-INCOME PEOPLE, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES FROM PREDATORY LENDING, RISKY FINANCIAL PRODUCTS, ABUSIVE CREDIT REPORTING AND DEBT COLLECTION, AND OTHER FORMS OF ECONOMIC EXPLOITATION. TO PROTECT PEOPLE WITH LIMITED FINANCIAL RESOURCES FROM EXPLOITATION, DECEPTION, AND LACK OF OPPORTUNITY, NCLC PURSUES REFORMS TO FEDERAL AND STATE POLICY, REGULATION, AND LEGISLATION, CRAFTING MODEL LEGISLATION AND PROPOSING REGULATORY REFORM. BY ENGAGING THE CONSUMER LAW COMMUNITY, LAWMAKERS, REGULATORS, AND THE MEDIA, NCLC HELPS ENSURE THAT PEOPLE WITH LOW INCOMES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, JUSTICE-INVOLVED INDIVIDUALS, AND PEOPLE WITH LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY HAVE ACCESS TO SECURE BANK ACCOUNTS; SAFE ACCESS TO CREDIT WITH INTEREST RATE CAPS; AND A PATH FOR FAMILIES IN DEBT TO PURSUE A FRESH START THROUGH A REASONABLE BANKRUPTCY PROCESS. WE ADVANCE POLICY SOLUTIONS TO COMBAT: PREDATORY LENDING; ABUSIVE OVERDRAFT FEES AND INTEREST RATES; SCAM ROBOCALLS AND TEXTS; IRRESPONSIBLE CREDIT REPORTING THAT REDUCES ACCESS TO SAFE HOUSING AND EMPLOYMENT; CRIPPLING MEDICAL DEBT; FORCED ARBITRATION; EXCESSIVE JUNK FEES; EXCESSIVE STUDENT LOAN DEBT; AND UNFAIR AND DECEPTIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES.

EDUCATING FRONT-LINE LEGAL SERVICES AND NON-PROFIT LAWYERS, PRIVATE ATTORNEYS, FEDERAL AND STATE POLICYMAKERS, REGULATORY AND ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS, AND COURTS ACROSS THE NATION ABOUT SUBSTANTIVE CONSUMER LAW ISSUES THROUGH CONFERENCES AND TRAININGS, EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES, AND IN-DEPTH TREATISES, REPORTS AND ISSUE BRIEFS. TO FURTHER ITS GROUNDBREAKING CONSUMER PROTECTION WORK, NCLC PROVIDES TRAINING AND EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES TO CONSUMER LAW ATTORNEYS AND ADVOCATES. NCLC PUBLISHES 21 CONSUMER LAW TREATISES ON EVERY ASPECT OF CONSUMER LAW. NCLC ADVOCATES UPDATE ITS DIGITAL LIBRARY REGULARLY AND PROVIDE SAMPLE PLEADINGS, TIMELY ARTICLES, TRIAL TIPS, AND STRATEGIES. NCLC PRODUCES THREE ANNUAL CONFERENCES, WHICH IN 2023 PROVIDED HIGH-LEVEL, IN-PERSON TRAINING TO NEARLY 1,000 LAWYERS AND PROVIDED ONLINE TRAINING AND WEBINARS TO THOUSANDS OF ADVOCATES. THROUGH A GRANT PROGRAM, LEGAL AID LAWYERS AND ATTORNEYS NEWER TO PRACTICE RECEIVE DISCOUNTED TUITION. IN ADDITION TO LITIGATING CONSUMER LAW CASES ON BEHALF OF ITS LOW-INCOME CLIENTS, NCLC ATTORNEYS ALSO PROVIDE EXPERT WITNESS SERVICES AND CONSULTING ON CONSUMER LAW AND UTILITY ISSUES. FREE MATERIALS ON NCLC.ORG ARM ADVOCATES WITH POWERFUL ANALYTICAL REPORTS, ISSUE BRIEFS, AND TESTIMONY.