MISSISSIPPI CENTER FOR JUSTICE

Mississippi’s legacy of poverty is prevalent throughout the state, particularly in communities of color. Predatory lenders – including payday lenders, check cashers, title loans companies, and others – find an environment ripe for preying on the working families and the elderly who find it financially difficult to pay for basic necessities. The impact of predatory lending is compounded by a policy environment that offers few consumer protections. Repeatedly, the fabric of low-income communities of color are torn apart because, while they own fewer homes in Mississippi, theirs are twice as likely to be foreclosed due to disparities of income and the lack of an inclusive financial infrastructure that allows for fair and competitive loan products.
Educational attainment does help change this landscape. Mississippians with college degrees are less likely to experience financial hardship than Mississippians who only have a high school diploma. However, there has also been a spike in problematic student loan debt stemming from expensive for profit colleges in Mississippi. In Mississippi, the fees associated with being poor adversely affect single mothers and communities of color, keeping them entrenched in a cycle of debt that has a negative effect on their children’s education, health and overall well- being. The need for reform has never been greater.

The economic future of a state rests on the quality of the education of its citizens. A good education can provide better access to healthcare, improve opportunities for financial stability and create more options for safe and affordable housing. Sadly, lack of access to a quality education is far too common for Mississippi’s children. Every year, Mississippi ranks at or near the bottom for student achievement. These statistics become even more daunting within communities of color and for students with disabilities. These students are more likely to face disciplinary actions, including suspensions or expulsions, which makes them more likely to drop out of school.
Students in Mississippi have a right to fair and safe schools that foster learning and a sense of community, which inspires growth and gives them the tools they need to succeed. The Center is working to ensure that children across the state have access to a quality education to help turn the tide of the education system and work toward improved proficiency scores, better graduation rates for minority and disabled students and adequate funding for all districts.
The Center supports every student’s right to a good education and that means fighting unjust suspensions and expulsions and keeping students in the classroom where they belong. More than just a law firm, the Center also works with parent advocates to help others know that they have the right to challenge their child’s suspension or expulsion.

The need for safe, decent, affordable housing across the state of Mississippi is great. Lack of housing options drive gaps in education, health and economic opportunities, particularly for low-income and African-American Mississippians. In fact, the state’s average home value is 50 percent lower than the national average, making it second lowest in the country.
In African American communities, the statistics are even more grim – many more African Americans rent, rather than own. Additionally, almost 32 percent of African American-occupied rental units spend more than half of their income on rent, and on facilities that are older and often overcrowded.
The Center knows that one of the best ways to strengthen communities is by investing in quality housing that is affordable to people at all income levels. The Center is working to address housing gaps in the areas of affordable housing, fair housing and public housing, as well as promoting housing policy as part of its sustainable community initiatives.

The Mississippi Center for Justice provides direct legal support and community outreach to ensure that eligible Mississippians can access the public benefits to which they are legally entitled, with a focus on Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Our team also advocates for legal, regulatory, and policy reforms to protect, strengthen, and expand access to these vital programs.

The George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative is a ten-year initiative to provide litigation and public policy advocacy in areas related to racial and economic justice, including voting rights, housing, consumer protection, and educational access. In 2017, MCJ and Rob McDuff jointly launched the George Riley Impact Litigation Initiative, which is named in honor of longtime MCJ board member the late George Riley.

The Mississippi Center for Justice (MCJ) serves as co-counsel for the Jackson Women's Health Organization, representing them in Dobbs v. JWHO and in ongoing litigation in the wake of the SCOTUS ruling. MCJ is committed to protecting a woman's right to make private health care choices, including abortion. MCJ is utilizing its expertise in litigation and policy advocacy to defend against the attack on the liberty of women.

The Mississippi Center for Justice is working to end Black land loss through its work in heirs' property. MCJ provides education and legal support to families whose property is encumbered by heirs' issues. The purpose is to help families keep, protect and utilize their land for generations to come, while protecting it from the pitfalls of predatory developers and timber harvesters, tax sales, and forced partition sales. MCJ also seeks to prevent future issues by ensuring families have completed necessary estate documents, such as wills.