(Video) See the impact of our work here and now Mr. and Mrs. Jurado with their sons Elmer and Jonathan in their repaired apartment. More than eight months since the pandemic hit the DC region, we see children and their families doing their best to be resilient during an extraordinarily difficult time. Parents going the distance for their kids by juggling jobs, distance learning and family care. Neighbors uplifting one another and looking after their communities. But the fatigue is real, and we know far too many families who are still struggling. It’s why I am heartened to see the direct impact Children’s Law Center is making in the lives of DC families right here, right now. Families like the Jurados, whose unhealthy housing conditions and son’s disability discrimination required our immediate advocacy. Pervasive humidity and mold in the family’s apartment endangered the health of twelve-year-old Elmer and nine-year-old Jonathan. Before and during the pandemic, their mother, Mrs. Jurado, cleaned daily to try and stop the spread of the mold. Still, the boys’ mattresses rotted, and their bedroom walls were wet to the touch. When Mrs. Jurado contracted the coronavirus and quarantined in recovery for more than a month, the effects of the mold became even more dangerous: Elmer and Jonathan developed skin rashes and Elmer had difficulty breathing. The problem was so serious that the family was forced to relocate to the living room and sleep on inflatable mattresses – all at a time when families are spending the majority of their days indoors. Like far too many families across the District, the Jurados struggled to get their landlord to fix their home’s terrible conditions – until a referral through our medical-legal partnership with Mary’s Center brought the family’s case to our attention. The Jurados fought for their sons' health, and Children's Law Center helped every step of the way. Children’s Law Center attorney Kate Rheaume immediately reached out to the Jurados, used FaceTime to see the extent of the damage in their home and filed a demand letter – finally motivating the building’s representatives to make all necessary repairs. “The boys feel so much better now,” shares Mrs. Jurado. “They are so happy to sleep in their own beds again.” And when we learned that the building’s landlord refused to let Elmer keep his service dog, Junior, we again went the distance to advocate for his well-being. “At a time when Elmer’s learning challenges were exacerbated by the absence of his regular routines, classmates, teachers and aides, it became clear to us just how much Elmer depended on Junior to help him connect with others,” shares Kate. Knowing that the family had a legal right to keep Junior, we filed a complaint with DC’s Office of Human Rights on the grounds of disability discrimination – and just a few days later, the landlord agreed to let Elmer keep his service dog. Today, breathing easier in a healthy home and reunited with their service dog, the family is able to enjoy a new start. “I’m really grateful to everyone who helped us,” shares Mrs. Jurado. As we continue to navigate these turbulent times – yet with a renewed hope for a brighter tomorrow – it’s our commitment to helping families like the Jurados that keeps us going. With your support, we will continue to make a lasting difference for our DC neighbors. Toward a better future, Tracy L. Goodman Director, Healthy Together Donate Children's Law Center | 501 3rd Street NW, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 20001 Unsubscribe [email protected] Update Profile | About our service provider Sent by [email protected] powered by Try email marketing for free today!