Home : Rights of the Poor

ACLU Urges Congress to Prevent Unfair Eviction of Innocent Tenants, Domestic Violence Victims (06/18/2002)
WASHINGTON - The American Civil Liberties Union today urged support in Congress for legislation to protect innocent tenants - including victims of domestic violence - from being unfairly evicted under a misguided policy that revokes eligibility for public housing tenants because of the wrongdoing of others.

ACLU Endorses Repeal of Unfair Financial Aid Denials (05/21/2002)
WASHINGTON - Concerned that more than 80,000 students - many of whom are persons of color and of limited means - have lost their financial aid because of predominantly minor drug convictions, the American Civil Liberties Union today joined with a large and diverse coalition formed to endorse a full repeal to the misguided law mandating this loss of aid. 

Welfare Must Work at Eliminating Poverty and Protecting Civil Rights; Current Reform Scheme Not Up to Task, ACLU Says (05/16/2002)
WASHINGTON - Saying that an effective welfare system must have poverty reduction as its highest priority, the American Civil Liberties Union today warned Congress that welfare reform legislation set for a vote this afternoon in the House is not up to the task and would, in many cases, open doors in the states to significant violations of the core civil liberties of welfare recipients. 

Idaho Court Blocks Law Denying Poor Women Assistance for Medically Necessary Abortions (08/17/2001)
BOISE, ID - The American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood of Idaho hail today's district court decision blocking a law that denies Medicaid coverage for medically necessary abortions. 

In a Victory for Poor Women, Alaska High Court Blocks State from Denying Aid for Medically Necessary Abortions (07/27/2001)
ANCHORAGE - In a resounding victory for poor women throughout the state, the Alaska Supreme Court unanimously held today that denying Medicaid coverage for medically necessary abortions while funding prenatal care and childbirth is discriminatory.

Connecticut Supreme Court Puts Teeth Back into State's Affordable Housing Law (07/09/2001)
HARTFORD, CT -- The Connecticut Civil Liberties Union today hailed a unanimous State Supreme Court decision that restores the state's affordable housing law to its original intent and strength and clarifies the role of judges who review local denials of proposals to develop affordable housing. 

ACLU and Planned Parenthood of Idaho Urge Court to Strike Law Denying Poor Women Assistance for Medically Necessary Abortions (06/22/2001)
BOISE, ID - Moving to protect the rights and health of low-income women, the American Civil Liberties Union and Planned Parenthood of Idaho filed suit today in a district court, asking the court to block a law that would deny Medicaid coverage for medically necessary abortions. 

Michigan Court Asked to Strike Down High School's Urine Testing Policy (06/05/2001)
FLINT, MI--The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today asked a Circuit Court to rule Grand Blanc High School's drug testing policy a violation of the state Constitution's protection against unreasonable searches and seizures. 

In Case Brought on Behalf of CA's Poor, ACLU Wins Changes to Punitive 'Family Cap' Welfare Rule (09/15/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA -- State welfare "reform" policies that sought to prevent families on welfare from having more children will be less punitive and capricious as a result of a settlement approved by the court yesterday, in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and others on behalf of poor women and children statewide.

Citing "Dangerous Precedent," Federal Judge Blocks MI's Plan to Drug Test Welfare Recipients (09/05/2000)
DETROIT, MI -- A federal district judge today blocked the country's first-ever law requiring welfare recipients to undergo drug testing, saying that the policy, enacted by Michigan last year, sets a "dangerous precedent" under the Constitution.

ACLU Urges NJ Court to Strike 'Family Cap' Provision for Welfare Recipients (08/30/2000)
NEWARK, NJ--The American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey along with the lawyers from NOW Legal Defense entered court today in their challenge to the Child Exclusion provision of New Jersey's welfare law.

ACLU Wins Appeal in Public Housing Desegregation Suit (07/14/2000)
BALTIMORE, MD -- In a major victory for Baltimore City public housing residents, a federal appeals court this week put a stop to the city's 60-year pattern of building public housing in only poor, minority areas of Baltimore.

Court Rejects Michigan's Attempt to End ACLU Challenge to Urine Testing of Welfare Recipients (04/18/2000)
DETROIT, MI -- Rejecting Michigan's attempt to end a lawsuit challenging drug testing of welfare recipients, a court today ruled that the action brought by the American Civil Liberties Union must go forward.

Judge Blocks First-Ever Mandatory Drug Testing of Michigan Welfare Recipients (11/10/1999)
DETROIT, MI -- A federal judge in Michigan today halted the state's attempt to impose mandatory drug tests on all welfare recipients, confirming American Civil Liberties Union arguments that being poor is not an indication of being criminal.