A University of Michigan graduate, Marty has been a significant player in the legal aid network since his 1978 graduation. In the 1980s, Wegbreit arrived in Southwestern Virginia to help workers get compensated for their manual labor injuries. By 1992, Marty Wegbreit had earned himself the title of first recipient of the annual Virginia Legal Aid Attorney award from the Virginia State Bar.
Wegbreit felt a shift of pace when he arrived in Richmond, where he undertook housing cases and advocated for tenants being taken advantage of by Virginia’s court system. In those 13 years at CVLAS, Marty worked passionately for housing law, low-income representation, and unemployment. Marty became a well-known figure in Richmond and other parts of Virginia, preparing him for his rise to national recognition in 2018.
The now well-known New York Times article highlighting Richmond as the nation’s 2nd highest evicting city quoted Wegbreit in the story, leading to Marty becoming a face of Richmond’s eviction crisis. Rather than shy away from this new responsibility, Marty faced it head-on. He made a suggestion – an eviction diversion program. “Rather than ruin someone’s life with an eviction, divert them out of the system,” he said to the Richmond Times-Dispatch. The City of Richmond listened to this suggestion and created the first local eviction diversion program in Virginia, with Marty Wegbreit as a critical partner and advisor in the design and implementation process.
In addition to EDP, Marty is a vital partner to numerous organizations in the Greater Richmond Area. He serves on boards for the City of Richmond, Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Campaign to Reduce Evictions, the Virginia Housing Commission, and the Virginia State Bar while working as the Director of Litigation at Central Virginia Legal Aid Society.
A pillar of the community and a legend in his own right, Marty will be sorely missed. He is the perfect example of going the extra mile and continues to be an inspiration. We wish you the best, Marty!