PRESS RELEASE: In Its First Year, the DC Resource Bridge Connected Thousands of DC Residents to Free Legal Help
Developed by the DC Bar Foundation and hosted by Legal Aid DC, the program has received more than 3,850 inquiries and connected residents with free and low-cost legal assistance through a network of 30 partner organizations.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE MEDIA CONTACT: Tanya Weinberg
WASHINGTON (Sept. 22, 2026) — For decades, many DC residents facing civil legal challenges such as child custody disputes, debt collection, domestic violence, and problems with public benefits have struggled to find the right place to turn for help.
One year after launching District-wide, the DC Resource Bridge is changing that reality. Since opening to the public on September 22, 2025, the service has received more than 3,850 inquiries and made about 2,800 referrals, connecting low- and moderate-income DC residents to free and low-cost legal help through a network of 30 partner organizations.
Developed by the DC Bar Foundation and hosted by Legal Aid DC, the DC Resource Bridge provides a single point of entry to civil legal assistance, helping residents connect with the organization best equipped to address their needs.
The milestone marks an important step toward addressing a longstanding challenge in DC's civil legal aid system. While the District is home to a strong network of legal services providers, each organization has different areas of expertise, eligibility requirements, priorities, and available capacity. As a result, residents seeking help have often had to navigate a complex system on their own, sometimes contacting multiple organizations before finding the right fit for their situation, or giving up altogether.
The DC Resource Bridge was created to streamline that process. After calling, completing an online application, or visiting in person, an applicant speaks with a DC Resource Bridge navigator who collects information about their legal issue and refers them directly to an organization that is ready to help them.
“The feedback from the community has been incredible,” said DC Resource Bridge Director Amy Mix. “We often hear from applicants that, by taking the guesswork out of trying to find legal help and making that seamless referral, the DC Resource Bridge is making a huge difference and leaves them feeling less overwhelmed by the process.”
The DC Resource Bridge was developed with strong community participation over several years and piloted before launching in September 2025.
"DC residents, community partners, and legal services providers all brought valuable perspectives to the table," said Kirra Jarratt, CEO of the DC Bar Foundation. "Together, we set out to create a simpler path to legal help so more people can connect with the right support when they need it."
About one-third of calls to the DC Resource Bridge are for family law matters, including child support and child custody. Other common topics include financial or debt issues and problems with public benefits.
Successful First Year and Path Ahead
In just the past year, the DC Resource Bridge:
Opened a physical office space in Anacostia at 1911 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE for in-person intakes;
Grew its staff from five people to 12, adding a second deputy director, a program coordinator, and five additional navigators;
Began accepting requests via an online form and in person, in addition to its phone line;
Expanded to cover a wide range of issue areas, which now include family law matters; public benefits; debt and foreclosure; employment law; education; civil rights; matters before the DC Court of Appeals; services for crime victims and survivors; and civil legal needs of people accused of a crime, incarcerated, or reentering the community; and
Began transitioning individual, single-topic legal hotlines, such as the Family Law Assistance Network (FLAN) and the Debt Collection Hotline to the DC Resource Bridge — moving the District toward one entry point for a wider range of assistance for all areas of civil law.
Looking ahead, the program will continue to make referrals in new areas of law, such as immigration and landlord tenant matters, and plans to open a space at DC Superior Court so applicants can seek help in-person at the location where their cases are heard.
“The DC Resource Bridge is going to continue to expand its reach to become the best place for any District resident to go to seek legal help,” said Vikram Swaruup, executive director of Legal Aid DC. “There is a great need for legal services in the District, and the DC Resource Bridge makes it easier not only for people who need a lawyer but also for providers who are able to more effectively and efficiently serve their clients.”
About the DC Resource Bridge: The DC Resource Bridge is a District-wide referral system that connects residents with free or low-cost civil legal help. The program, launched in September 2025, matches applicants with the legal services organization best suited to their needs from among a network of 30 providers. The DC Bar Foundation developed and supports the DC Resource Bridge, and Legal Aid DC hosts the program. Learn more at dcresourcebridge.org.
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