We believe that the law is a powerful tool in ending youth homelessness.
Press Release: Southern Legal Center for Youth Receives $25,000 Grant from the Community Foundation of Greater Atlanta to Support Youth Housing Stability
December 1, 2025
Southern Legal Center for Youth (SLCY) is proud to announce a $25,000 grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta to support its Youth Homelessness Program, which is the only program of its kind in Georgia. This funding will enable the organization to expand its legal services and outreach efforts for young people experiencing housing instability across metro Atlanta.
“Access to safe and stable housing is a fundamental right, yet far too many young people face homelessness because of legal barriers that can be prevented with early intervention from an attorney,” said Liz Harding Chao, Executive Director of Southern Legal Center for Youth. “At least 3,300 youth and young adults experience homelessness on any given night in metro Atlanta. This generous grant from the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta will allow us to provide critical legal assistance to help youth and young adults navigate complex housing challenges and secure long-term stability.” Read more...
Georgia Recorder: LGBTQ-friendly resources, policies recede on Georgia’s college campuses as DEI rollbacks continue
August 18, 2025
At some schools, students and groups have stepped in to fill the void
Canceled pride graduation celebrations. Eliminated resource centers for LGBTQ students. Tighter rules for using a preferred name on class rosters and student IDs. These are some of the casualties on Georgia college campuses as a national push to erase DEI initiatives and programs takes hold.
University System of Georgia schools across the state have adopted a variety of changes in response to a flurry of federal orders from the Trump administration. Republican state lawmakers have also pursued a ban on DEI programs and policies in Georgia’s public schools and universities. Read more...
WABE: Metro Atlanta nonprofit hosts legal name change clinics amid LGBTQ+ Political climate
June 30, 2025
On Peachtree Street, a grey 40-story skyscraper called the Promenade Tower overlooks several other buildings on the block.
Inside, white navigation signs with red arrows lead to a fancy touchscreen elevator where a legal name change clinic is welcoming a few clients.
The event’s host is the Southern Legal Center for Youth, or SLCY. The College Park, Georgia, nonprofit is hoping to make the lives of queer and trans young adults a little easier as the state and federal governments adopt anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
“It’s just something small that we could do that has a big impact in our young people’s lives,” said Liz Harding Chao, the founder of SLCY, who identifies as queer and genderfluid. Read more...
Georgia State University: Law Student Leads the Charge to End Youth Homelessness
October 9, 2024
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. Read more...
What Sets Us Apart
People-First Approach
Everything we do is built around understanding your needs and helping you succeed—because when you thrive, so do we.
Long-Term Relationships
We’re not just here for the now. We love creating lasting relationships with our clients and growing with them over time.
Proven Process, Flexible Execution
We bring structure where it counts and adaptability where it matters. Our methods are clear, but always responsive.