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Each year, the Coalition for Homelessness Intervention and Prevention (CHIP) distributes thousands of its Handbook of Help, a listing of services available to individuals who have lost their home, including Indianapolis area youth, formerly incarcerated individuals, and homeless shelter clients and residents.

The newest edition was updated by 15 IU McKinney law student volunteers, after Brittany Kelly, Associate Director of the Hall Center for Law and Health, in partnership with the IndyBar Public Outreach Committee, connected them to the pro bono project.

Kelly said she became aware of the need through her time as a Marion County Public Defender, where she saw so many people come into contact with the criminal justice system as a result of homelessness and a lack of access to resources. Kelly and her fellow members of the IndyBar Public Outreach Committee, including Jana Matthews, Senior Associate Director for Professional Development, put out a call to law students, who responded enthusiastically.

“Brittany and the McKinney students saved us countless hours by taking on the daunting task of verifying and updating the information in the Handbook,” said Whitney Johnson, CHIP director of organizational operations. “Not only did the students complete the task, but they became invested in the purpose of the Handbook and found additional resources and wanted to support the distribution effort.”

McKinney Law students involved in the project included Sasha Blevins, Kennedy Bunch, Molly Connor, Tiffany Costley, Elias Gering, Jacob Jordan, Geofrey Mpamulungi, Sarah Plew, Stuart Settle, Heather Shuler, Hannah Smith, George Sorrels, Virginia Speck and Ajoke Yussuf.

“McKinney students involved in the CHIP Handbook of Help project should be proud of their efforts,” Kelly said. “The updated Handbook will serve so many Indianapolis residents experiencing homelessness or risk of homelessness who are in need of connection and support. I am encouraged by this group of aspiring lawyers who saw the value in community outreach to help their neighbors in need.”