CLS Duffy Fellows Mark Another Year of Impact for Philadelphia Residents in Need
(Philadelphia) – Celebrating its 60th year of advancing justice for Philadelphia’s most vulnerable residents, Community Legal Services (CLS) is also marking the continued impact of its Duffy Fellows, attorneys who spend each day working to ensure that every Philadelphian has access to high‑quality legal representation. This is no small task, given that assisting clients means constantly responding to rapidly shifting economic pressures, rising utility costs, and mounting barriers in public benefits systems.
Expanding Access to Utility Relief and Serving Immigrants in Their Own Neighborhoods
Duffy Fellow Tue Ho has emerged as a leading voice on utility affordability and access to life-saving benefits, such as Medicaid and SNAP. Working directly in the neighborhoods where many immigrant families live, Ho has built trust with communities who often face language barriers, limited access to legal help, and confusion about complex assistance programs. His neighborhood-based approach has allowed residents to receive help from someone who understands their community, a critical factor in ensuring that families stay warm and safe.
Ho’s work gained regional attention when he was featured in a CBS News story highlighting the barriers residents face when trying to keep their homes warm. While many residents are aware of the federally funded Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), few understand how to apply or realize they may qualify for additional support. Ho co-facilitated an annual LIHEAP program review webinar along with the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project and DHS that had 600+ registrants.
Ho also has been a strong advocate for people facing cuts to SNAP and Medicaid. Recent SNAP changes have added additional burdensome reporting requirements for recipients. He has led local community education efforts, personally training more than one thousand caseworkers and SNAP recipients on how to maintain their SNAP benefits. Additional Medicaid changes are set to go into effect in the latter half of this year in the form of imposing work requirements, reducing eligibility for immigrants, and additional burdensome reporting to maintain benefits. The compounding effects of these changes could force seniors and people with disabilities into institutional care. Medicaid-funded home and community-based services allow individuals to remain safely in their homes by supporting daily needs such as bathing, eating, and mobility. These essential services are often among the first targeted when funding is reduced. Ho aims to similarly lead local community education efforts to help vulnerable communities access important medical treatment.
Nationally Recognized Leadership in Social Security Advocacy
Duffy Fellow Jen Burdick continues her nationally recognized work in Social Security and public benefits, helping clients navigate a system that has grown increasingly difficult to access. A recent story in The Philadelphia Inquirer spotlighted the experience of a 62-year-old city resident, who lost her benefits without explanation and struggled to reach the Social Security office. After waiting on hold for more than four hours, her call was ultimately disconnected -- an experience that reflects the growing barriers many applicants face. Burdick directly represents low-income Philadelphia’s seeking these life-saving benefits.
Burdick is also leading efforts to reform how benefits are administered. In addition to speaking about current problems, she is engaging in proactive advocacy around future administrative issues including the use of AI at SSA. She was honored to be asked to co-chair the National Academy of Social Insurance’s AI Task Force. Through that task force she has worked in coalition to do a deep dive into SSA’s current AI use and identifying principles and guardrails to safeguard disabled claimants’ and beneficiaries’ rights as SSA adds AI tools into their process.
“We are grateful to Tom Duffy for continuing to support CLS through the Duffy Fellowship,” said Debby Freedman, Executive Director of CLS. "The Duffy Fellowship allows our attorneys to provide life-saving legal representation to help clients weather the most urgent crises, including loss of Medicaid and SNAP benefits, and denial of disability benefits. At a time when so many low-income Philadelphians are struggling to get by, the Duffy Fellowship is a vital component of access to justice."
A Program Designed for Impact
The Duffy Fellowship, founded in 2012 by Tom Duffy, underwrites staff attorney salaries at leading nonprofit legal service organizations throughout the region. Designed to address unmet legal needs, the fellowship funds full-time attorneys who can provide sustained legal representation for the poor and homeless in Philadelphia.
In 1988, Tom Duffy left a promising career at a large Philadelphia firm to establish his own practice with one singular focus— helping individuals and families who are the victims of catastrophic injury. Since that time, The Duffy Firm has secured millions for victims of catastrophic injury in Philadelphia. Learn more at duffyfirm.com.