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JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry presented Let’s Talk with Judge Dan Butler

On Wednesday, September 30, the JFCS Squirrel Hill Food Pantry hosted the second event of Let’s Talk, a series that invites guest speakers with expertise in issues surrounding poverty to increase awareness of community resources. The guest speaker this time was Magisterial District Judge Daniel Butler on the topic of the Center for Disease Control’s declaration on the temporary halt on evictions. 

Because thousands of community members have lost income as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, housing insecurity is a significant threat for many. Local, state, and federal government placed moratoriums on evictions this year, to prevent landlords from evicting tenants who have fallen behind on rent because of COVID-19. However, the moratoriums are confusing both to tenants and the organizations that assist them. As a result, some tenants are unaware of their rights as landlords move to evict them.

Judge Butler spoke about who is covered under the CDC declaration and the rights these tenants have. He also discussed how the declaration could impact social service delivery and critical needs work. Participants were invited to ask Judge Butler questions after his presentation.

Let’s Talk is open to JFCS staff and critical needs workers from other organizations in the community.

The virtual event was attended by 28 individuals from 12 different organizations.

Judge Butler has served as a judge of the Municipal Court of Pittsburgh and on Pittsburgh’s specialized Domestic Violence Court and has spoken nationally about legal issues, domestic violence, and Jewish ethics. Prior to his current position, Judge Butler served as Family Court’s staff attorney, a Family court hearing officer, and Pittsburgh city magistrate. He has also acted as Past Chairman of the Holocaust Commission of Greater Pittsburgh.

As part of the event, Let’s Talk participants were surveyed about their concerns for clients related to COVID-19, and their needs as professionals helping to alleviate poverty. The results of the survey are depicted in the following graphs: