Liz Harding (J.D. ‘26) student at Georgia State University, is excelling in her fight to end youth homelessness in Atlanta and beyond. As the founder of the Southern Legal Center for Youth (SLCY), the first legal aid organization in Georgia to provide free civil legal services specifically to young people aged 12-24 who are at risk of or currently experiencing homelessness.
Harding combines her passion for public interest law with her background in data and evaluation to address critical legal needs for young people experiencing homelessness.
Southern Legal Center for Youth is a non-profit organization whose mission is to support the health, safety, stability, and education of young people in the Southern United States by advancing their legal rights. SLCY's ultimate vision is that all young people in the South have their legal needs met so that they can secure housing, education, healthcare, and other benefits and resources they need for stability.
Harding, who was born in Australia, moved to the United States in 2016, is pursuing a Public Interest Law and Policy Certificate while working in Georgia State Law’s Health Law Partnership (HeLP) Legal Services Clinic. She supports families within the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta system and handles cases relating to housing, education, and social security. Harding’s career in advocacy started before she got into law school; she led data and evaluation efforts at a Washington state non-profit called A Way Home Washington. This organization works to prevent and end youth homelessness with a focus on prioritizing young people of color and LGBTQ+ youth who experience homelessness.
“When I moved to Atlanta, I noticed there weren’t any organizations like SLCY, which focuses on providing legal support to young people just like the ones I worked with in Washington,” Harding said. According to Harding, the feedback from the community so far was that “while there were great legal aid organizations in Atlanta, young people experiencing homelessness weren’t getting their legal needs met.”
This center recently received a $35,000 grant from the Georgia Bar Foundation which was used to create a Youth Homelessness Program for SLCY.
Kelly Russo, chief counsel and director of the American Bar Association’s Commission on Homelessness and Poverty, commended Harding’s efforts. “Legal barriers often prevent a young person from accessing housing, education, employment, health care, and more. Ensuring youth and young adults have access to a lawyer is critical and can be a game changer in the fight to end homelessness. Liz Harding and the Southern Legal Center for Youth, a program proudly part of the ABA Homeless Youth Legal Network, provide much-needed legal assistance to ensure the rights of youth are protected, and young people have what they need to thrive truly.” Russo explained.
Recently, SLCY successfully prevented the illegal eviction of a domestic violence survivor and is currently assisting a young person who has experienced identity theft to dispute false entries on her credit report. “Young people face a range of issues, from guardianship and emancipation to restraining orders and identity theft,” Harding explained. This is why SLCY’s work is not limited to housing issues but is also concerned with far more extensive issues.
Harding believes that one of the most significant barriers young people face is “adultism,” the pervasive bias against youth within legal and social systems. She explained that these systems are not built with young people’s best interests at heart, and without legal representation, they are frequently exploited, even by those who are meant to assist them.
SLCY's services are different from traditional legal aid because they meet young people where they are. “We provide support in a way that’s accessible to them, whether at school or a community center; we keep young people housed and stable using the law in different ways,” Harding said. The impact can be as direct as preventing an eviction or as subtle as fixing a young person’s credit, so they won’t be denied housing.
Harding credits her partner for being supportive and the board members of SLCY for being dedicated. “I have a group of dedicated board members who support me in operating the organization and much support from SLCY’s community partners who help us organize community events,” said Harding.
According to Harding, Tameka Lester, associate dean for Student Success Programs and Strategic Enrollment Management at the College of Law has been an invaluable source of support, consistently responsive and eager to assist.
Additionally, Alex Eichenbaum, deputy director from the Center for Access to Justice, has played a significant role in uplifting Harding's work, always finding ways to contribute to her efforts. “I deeply appreciate these amazing women for their support and mentorship,” Harding said. She also appreciates her mentor Faryn Christie (J.D. ‘16), an attorney at SLCY. "Faryn is an incredible mentor and thought partner, and I wouldn’t be able to run SLCY without her.”
Harding’s long-term goal for SLCY is to build partnerships with schools, increase their funding streams and budget, and serve at least fifty young people over the next year. She is also aiming to expand SLCY’s presence across Georgia and potentially into neighboring states like Alabama, which currently lacks organizations focused on legal support for young people in crisis.
As Harding continues her mission, she remains hopeful. "If we’re going to end adult homelessness, we need to start with young people. Too often, they fall through the cracks, and if we don’t help them early, they are far more likely to experience homelessness as adults." With her dedication and the backing of community partners, Harding is paving the way for a future where no young person in Georgia has to face homelessness alone.
-Written by Ifunanya Ejimofor (LL.M. ‘25)