I began to volunteer when I was at a point in life where I wanted to re-enter the legal field on a limited basis and wanted to do something useful. I could do something I know or try something new. Although it was daunting at first, I chose new.
What I most enjoy about volunteering for TCVLS is that I can see the difference I make in people’s lives. Also, volunteering feels less transactional than getting paid to work. I don’t have a financial motivation clouding my interactions with clients.
When I began volunteering for TCVLS, I was suddenly learning a huge amount of new information and my focus was on the challenge of mastering the “work.” However, now that I’ve gotten over that initial hurdle and seen first-hand how our community is experiencing so much homelessness and difficulty providing affordable housing, volunteering for HJP has become rewarding in a more fundamental way. I have been working with other housing advocates on new legislation that I believe will eventually improve the situation overall. I see the relief on my clients’ faces and know that I’m doing something necessary and good.
I recently helped three clients stay housed. In many cases, the best I can do is get a client more time to move out of their home. To keep a tenant in their home is a major accomplishment to me. The odds are against getting a tenancy reinstated because many of our clients simply don’t have the funds to reinstate. In one of my recent cases, my clients were fully engaged in the process and wanted to make it work but they were over their heads. I was impressed by how organized they were and that they kept such good records. The record keeping can make a big difference between success and failure. The odds seemed against us at first but I was able to negotiate an agreement with the landlord that I believe is workable.
Kimberlee Thornton