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Washington, D.C. - On Tuesday, September 30, the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty ("the Law Center") will honor Steve Smith, Sr. of the Baltimore Ravens, Senator Patty Murray, Sidley Austin LLP and Aleah Green at the 16th Annual McKinney-Vento Awards in Washington, D.C. The Law Center is honoring these exceptional people, and celebrating its 25th Anniversary of 25 years of high impact work to protect the rights of homeless people and to end homelessness in America. ABC7/News Channel 8 Senior Political Reporter Scott Thuman will serve as the emcee for the evening.
Steve Smith, Sr.will receive the Stewart B. McKinney Award and Senator Patty Murray will receive the Bruce F. Vento Award for their commitment to advancing solutions that prevent and end homelessness. Smith and his wife, Angie, established the Steve Smith Family Foundation which champions the cause of the voiceless and fearful, envisioning an end to domestic violence and a better quality of life for all. The Foundation is dedicated to providing resources and hope to those in need. Smith, Sr. has shown both leadership and commitment to homeless, poor, and disadvantaged communities and individuals in America.
Senator Patty Murray has a proven track record spanning more than two decades of fighting for Washington state families in the United States Senate. Patty has established herself as an effective leader on education, transportation, budget issues, port security, healthcare, women, and veterans issues. She has been a leader in the Senate in implementing policies and providing funding for programs to help those facing homelessness. This includes ensuring that homeless students have the rights and support they need to succeed in school. She has also fought for resources for affordable housing, services and shelters for homeless, as well as resources to prevent homelessness. She also restarted the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing program, providing housing and services to homeless veterans and helping to significantly reduce veteran homelessness. She believes in fighting for justice and has worked on numerous critical issues with the Law Center.
Sidley Austin LLP will receive the Pro Bono Counsel Award. Sidley lawyers devoted over 100,000 hours to pro bono service in 2013 and a critical part of Sidley's pro bono program has been its long-term partnership with the Law Center. In collaboration with the Law Center over the last two decades, Sidley has protected the First Amendment rights of churches to feed and shelter homeless individuals, challenged voter ID laws that violated the voting rights of homeless persons, and challenged anti-camping ordinances that criminalized the mere status of being homeless.
Aleah Green will receive the Personal Achievement Award for her bravery in the face of hardship and homelessness. Despite her many accomplishments in life, as an unemployed single mom burdened by debt, Ms. Green found herself struggling. Without the financial resources to afford her own place she was forced to become one of the millions of Americans today who must endure homelessness. After her son was denied the right to go to school, Ms. Green took action and called the Law Center. Shiloh was able to return to school and receive the special education services he needed. Her story exemplifies the power of the law to change lives.
The McKinney-Vento Awards pays tribute to Congressmen Stewart B. McKinney and Bruce F. Vento, who co-authored the first major legislation addressing the national homelessness crisis. The 16th Annual McKinney-Vento Awards will be held on Tuesday, September 30, from 6 - 9 p.m., at The Liaison Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
