Alaska Legal Services Corporation is happy to celebrate Elizabeth (Liz) Hodes as our January Volunteer of the Month! Liz has made a huge impact as a volunteer with ALSC due to the time and energy she continuously puts into helping those in need. We are so grateful to Liz for her many life-changing contributions to our client community who are dealing with complex housing issues. Read more about Liz and her experience as a Pro Bono volunteer below:
Why did you choose to volunteer with ALSC?
ALSC’s Housing Court Justice Project is a great addition to the pro bono services offered in our community and I wanted to support that program. Housing is an important issue in Anchorage and throughout Alaska, and I want to help address community needs in that area.
What are some of your experiences at ALSC that have made a positive difference in the lives of others and/or the community?
Individuals and families with housing issues and limited income need resources to address those issues. ALSC provides a variety of helpful avenues for those people to get help, understand their situation, and avoid dire consequences. In addition to other resources (landlord-tenant hotline, regular clinics, ALSC’s office), I have been able to help people in need reach agreements to retain housing vouchers and keep a roof over their children’s heads in the winter. I also helped a family avoid a retaliatory eviction when their landlord sought to avoid basic health and safety requirements for their home.
How do you think your experiences with ALSC will benefit you in the future?
On a basic level, helping people makes me feel good – whether it’s helping people understand the law or helping them find mutually-beneficial solutions to their problems or disagreements. Participating in meaningful ALSC programs also helps me to stay informed about issues in our community so I can play a meaningful role in developing solutions to problems affecting all of us.
What do you do when you are not volunteering with ALSC?
I have been a practicing attorney in Alaska since 2005. My hobbies include wrangling three children and two dogs and getting outside with my family as much as possible.
