DC Council: Fully Fund WRAP-IT, Legal Aid & Public Assistance. Communities Can’t Survive Without It.

The Issue

To the Mayor of Washington, D.C., the D.C. Council Chair, and D.C. Council Members:

Civil legal aid in Washington, D.C. is not a luxury, it is an equity imperative.
It ensures that low-income, justice-impacted, and historically marginalized residents have access to legal support in areas such as housing, custody, healthcare, and public benefits.

Programs like the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Initiative mobilize volunteer attorneys to support residents facing eviction, custody challenges, and benefit denials, advancing justice in the face of systemic barriers.

As a D.C. resident, a single mother, and the Founder of WRAP-IT (Wraparound Reentry Advocacy Program for Intervention and Transformation), I bring more than passion, I bring 20 years of firsthand courtroom experience.

I served over two decades as the Senior Executive Assistant to Paris London, one of D.C.'s most trusted criminal defense investigators and Founder of The Detective Agency. From that front-row seat, I witnessed the gaps in reentry, sentencing support, and legal advocacy that too often left families broken and unsupported.

WRAP-IT was born from that lived reality.

I have:

• Stood beside families in courtrooms and sentencing hearings

• Written letters of advocacy and readiness plans

• Walked clients home after conviction, custody loss, or release

• Helped preserve housing, employment, and custodial rights

• Built reentry programs for churches, grassroots organizations, and returning citizens

• Mentored youth and adults through trauma recovery and workforce readiness

WRAP-IT wasn't born out of theory, it was born out of necessity.
It was built inside the very system it now supports.

When the system didn't show up for me, the people who made up that system did, including elders, movement-builders, and faith leaders who taught me how to stand, speak up, and build something that outlasts me.

WRAP-IT is their legacy too.

Why WRAP-IT Should Be Fully Funded

WRAP-IT is a trauma-informed, court-compatible program that fills the gaps traditional systems leave behind. It directly supports D.C. residents in the exact areas being defunded, including legal readiness, emotional healing, workforce transition, and housing stabilization.

Fully funding WRAP-IT means:

• Reducing recidivism through structured mentorship and accountability

• Meeting court diversion standards through verifiable progress reports, coursework, and service

• Supporting public defenders and community justice teams with reentry-aligned alternatives

• Offering real solutions for probation officers, diversion programs, and mental health courts

• Uplifting families affected by incarceration and economic instability

WRAP-IT is already ready, with an existing intake process, credentialed partnerships, certified workforce training, mentor pathways, and proven results. It is:

• Court-ready

• Funder-ready

• Community-rooted

• Outcomes-driven

Funding WRAP-IT is not just supporting a program, it's investing in a pipeline to restoration, employment, and healing for the people D.C. cannot afford to leave behind.

The Economic Reality

According to a 2025 report from the Legal Services Corporation:

💵 Every $1 invested in civil legal aid generates an average return of $6.72 in economic and social value.
In some states, the return is as high as $17.99.

That value reflects:

• Income preserved through child support, wage protections, and public benefits

• Costs avoided through eviction prevention, housing retention, and legal representation

• Reduced use of emergency systems like shelters, ERs, and temporary placements

In D.C., civil legal aid isn't charity, it's a community safety net that lowers costs, protects families, and stabilizes lives.

Why This Petition Matters

Mayor Bowser's proposed FY26 budget cuts funding for the Access to Justice Initiative by 67 percent, from $31.7 million to just $10.5 million, while keeping SNAP and other public assistance programs flat during a time of soaring costs.

These cuts would devastate:

• Residents' ability to remain safely housed

• Access to civil legal protections for vulnerable families

• The future of community-based reentry initiatives like WRAP-IT

We cannot trade dignity and justice for short-term budget savings.

What We Urge the Council to Do

• Fully restore $31.7 million to the Access to Justice Initiative

• Increase SNAP and public benefit funding to reflect real need

• Invest in court-informed programs like WRAP-IT which are already positioned to deliver results

Programs like WIC, TANF, diaper banks, aftercare, school meals, and civil legal aid are not optional,
they are lifelines.

WRAP-IT is proof that community-centered, courtroom-tested solutions work when we center those closest to both the pain and the purpose.

Why Your Signature Matters

Your signature says:

"We see the families. We see the youth. We see the returning citizens and the women who never gave up on them.
We believe in second chances, system change, and community healing.
We stand for equity, justice, and dignity in D.C."

Please sign this petition.
Stand with WRAP-IT.
Stand with the people.
Stand for a D.C. that protects, uplifts, and restores.