Gabriela Sevilla

  • Hosted by Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc.
  • Sponsored by Pfizer Inc.
  • Service location Baltimore, Maryland
  • Law school Howard University School of Law
  • Issue area Disability Rights, Housing/Homelessness
  • Fellowship class year 2019
  • Program Design-Your-Own Fellowship

The Project

Gabriela will implement the DREAM Partnership. The DREAM (Disability Representation Education Advocacy Medical-Legal) Partnership will establish a medical-legal partnership between Homeless Persons Representation Project and Health Care for the Homeless to promote economic stability and help end homelessness in Baltimore.

There are about 2,669 people experiencing homelessness in Baltimore and almost one third of them reported having a serious mental illness. Nationally, only 28% of individuals who apply for Supplemental Security Insurance and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSI/SSDI) are approved on initial application. For people who are homeless and have no one to assist them, that percentage reduces by more than half. The DREAM Partnership will aim to provide free legal representation in SSDI or other public benefits programs to people experiencing homelessness in Baltimore to promote economic stability and help end homelessness.

Gabriela was inspired to serve people experiencing homeless because of her and her family’s own struggle with housing insecurity. She grew up depending on public benefits programs like SSI as her family’s main source of income and knows first-hand how life changing it will be to secure these benefits for her clients.

Fellowship Plans

Gabriela will eliminate barriers for people experiencing homelessness who may also have a physical or mental disability obtaining legal aid with applying to public benefits programs. Gabriela will provide direct representation to clients in Social Security and Disability (SSI/SSDI) hearings and appeals of public benefits. She will also advocate and educate the community on these issues.

Media

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy of Service

‘We’re human beings!’ the homeless woman yelled. ‘Acknowledge us!’ Then people did — in a way she didn’t expect.

Legal intern raises over $41K to help homeless couple who are 'no longer invisible'

GoFundMe Campaign Raises $40,000 For Couple Living In A Tent Near Union Station

I am passionate about this issue because I know what it is like to not have a place to call home, and I see myself when I serve my clients.

Gabriela Sevilla /
Equal Justice Works Fellow

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Diana Chen

Host: Arizona Center For Disability Law

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Sara Pezeshkpour

Host: Housing Rights Center

Sponsor: Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP