Sarah Rhine Helps Fight Homelessness
Sarah Spangler Rhine manages the Housing Unit at the Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) of Delaware. Prior to working at CLASI, Sarah was the Policy Director at Housing Alliance Delaware where she addressed issues of affordable housing and homelessness in Delaware. Sarah has also supervised a Self-Help program in Maryland as an employee of Maryland Center for Legal Assistance; worked at Disability Rights Maryland in the Mental Health Unit; and worked at the Homeless Person’s Representation Project as a housing attorney. Additionally, she has taught in the paralegal program at Delaware Technical Community College.
Q: Can you introduce yourself?
A: I am a Managing Attorney at Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. You can learn more at www.declasi.org
Q: What compelled you to enter your field?
A: I believe in the human right to housing. No person should be without a safe, affordable place to call home.
Q: What’s one industry-specific thing you wish you knew when you started?
A: Our clients are often in crisis because of failed systems. I have sought out jobs that allow for both individual and systemic advocacy because both are necessary for me to feel balance in my work. However, I wish someone had helped me develop even more tools before entering legal services. I want to bring every strategy to the table to ensure housing for all.
Q: What trends do you see dramatically influencing the work in your industry?
A: There is an affordable housing crisis. Delaware has a very high rate of evictions. With over 25,000 extremely low-income households currently identified in our state, any increase in social or economic instability will increase the demand for CLASI to help extremely low-income Delaware households to remain stably housed
Q: What’s a common myth about your industry/job?
A: People think that legal services attorneys have easy jobs, or don't have the same skills and work ethic as other attorneys. This is untrue. I would posit that some of the hardest-working and best legal minds choose to dedicate their lives to providing free legal services.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to share?
A: The work done by CLASI is righteous. There is never a question that we are fighting for just outcomes for our clients and our communities.
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