Maria Foscarinis

Maria Foscarinis is a renowned lawyer and advocate for the National Coalition for the Homeless and the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty. She has worked closely with organizations such as the American Bar Association, National Alliance to End Homelessness, and Catholic Charities USA to address issues related to homelessness in the United States. Foscarinis has also collaborated with government agencies, including the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Department of Health and Human Services, to develop policies and programs aimed at reducing homelessness. Her work has been influenced by the principles of Catholic social teaching and the efforts of advocates like Mother Teresa and Dorothy Day.

● Early Life and Education

Maria Foscarinis was born and raised in a family that valued social justice and community service. She was inspired by the work of Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement, as well as the anti-war movement and the feminist movement. Foscarinis pursued her undergraduate degree at Barnard College, where she was exposed to the ideas of Simone de Beauvoir and Betty Friedan. She then attended Yale Law School, where she was influenced by the teachings of Guido Calabresi and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. During her time at Yale, Foscarinis was involved with the Yale Law Journal and the National Lawyers Guild.

● Career

After completing her law degree, Foscarinis began her career as a lawyer at the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty, where she worked alongside Bruce Vladeck and Sheila Crowley. She has also worked with the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Association of Social Workers to address issues related to housing law and poverty law. Foscarinis has been a vocal advocate for the rights of people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and veterans, and has worked with organizations such as the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund and the Human Rights Campaign. Her work has been recognized by the Ford Foundation and the Open Society Foundations.

● Advocacy and Policy Work

Foscarinis has been a leading advocate for policies aimed at reducing homelessness, including the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and the HEARTH Act. She has worked closely with lawmakers such as Senator Jack Reed and Representative Maxine Waters to develop and implement legislation related to affordable housing and homelessness prevention. Foscarinis has also collaborated with organizations such as the National Coalition for the Homeless and the Coalition on Human Needs to advocate for policies that address the root causes of homelessness, including poverty, lack of affordable housing, and mental illness. Her work has been influenced by the principles of social determinism and the efforts of advocates like Jane Addams and Frances Perkins.

● Awards and Recognition

Foscarinis has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty's Bruce F. Vladeck Award and the American Bar Association's John Minor Wisdom Public Interest and Professionalism Award. She has also been recognized by the National Coalition for the Homeless and the Catholic Charities USA for her dedication to addressing homelessness and poverty. Foscarinis has been named one of the Washingtonian's 100 Most Powerful Women in Washington and has been featured in publications such as the New York Times and the Washington Post.

● Personal Life

Foscarinis is a member of the Catholic Church and has been involved with various Catholic organizations, including the Catholic Charities USA and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. She has also been involved with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and the Ignatian Solidarity Network. Foscarinis is married to a lawyer and has two children, and is a resident of Washington, D.C.. She has been influenced by the teachings of Pope Francis and the principles of Laudato si', and has been involved with efforts to address climate change and environmental justice. Foscarinis has also been involved with the National Museum of Women in the Arts and the Smithsonian Institution. Category:American lawyers