California’s oldest and largest legal services support center, created in 1967 to focus on housing, health care and a strong safety net for low-income Californians. HQ in LA, with offices in Sacramento and Oakland.
Organization Website
Twitter: @Western_Center
Facebook: Facebook
Primary geographic focus: California Statewide, Northern California, Southern California
Organization Type: Provider, Research/Policy/Organizing
LAAC Membership Type: Members
Lists: IOLTA-Funded, IOLTA Support Centers
Tags: Benefits, Civil Rights, Consumer Protection, Disability: Mental Health, Health Care, Housing: Homelessness, Language Access, Law School Clinics, Poverty, Prisoners Rights
Acronym or short name: WCLP
Western Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP), Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, San Jose Mercury News
April 10, 2015
Residents of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park appeal decision to close the park and to approve the relocation assistance package offered.
August 8, 2017
Advocates for California motorists who face mounting fees for traffic tickets took another step to ease the burden, a settlement that seeks to offer options to paying fines that many people can’t afford.
News Story
Atlantic, The
April 5, 2017
Housing lawyers are reporting a troubling trend: Landlords exploiting the growing fear of immigration authorities to evict tenants, raise rents, and clear residents from gentrifying neighborhoods.
News Story
October 26, 2016
Legal advocates, including four LAAC members, sue the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
News Story
June 21, 2016
SB 881 stops the automatic suspension of driver’s licenses for low-income people with minor traffic offenses who fail to appear in court or to pay initial fines that snowball into huge financial burdens.
News Story
East Bay Express (Oakland)
March 24, 2016
News Story
Contra Costa Times
October 1, 2015
Plaintiffs want Alameda County to ensure that they stop continuing to process applications late.
News Story
Los Angeles Times (LA Times)
August 21, 2015
The Health Consumer Alliance of San Diego, representing several legal aid organizations, sent a letter to Covered California complaining about problems with the implementation of the health laws.
News Story
November 18, 2015
Failure to accommodate the disabled poor draws lawsuit against L.A. County Department of Public Social Services.
News Story
Los Angeles Times (LA Times)
November 14, 2015
After the first month of implementation of California's new traffic amnesty program, civil legal aid advocates are wary of a system fraught with inconsistencies.
News Story
Western Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP), Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, San Jose Mercury News
April 10, 2015
Residents of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park appeal decision to close the park and to approve the relocation assistance package offered.
Opinion
June 16, 2015
The Legislature and Governor should repeal the MFG rule in the 2015-2016 budget as a first step in combating childhood poverty.
News Story
Los Angeles Times (LA Times)
March 7, 2015
A $3.3 million settlement was approved following the Western Center on Law and Poverty's 2012 lawsuit against the Los Angeles Housing Authority's illegal charge for trash collection.
News Story
Canyon News
SB 405 would give amnesty to people who have had their licenses suspended due to outstanding traffic fines and court penalties.
This training will review key case law and strategies to identify, access, and develop evidence in fraud cases in CalFresh, CalWORKs and other public benefit programs.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
,
MCLE: 0 hours
,
How far can a federal agency go in promulgating or changing new regulations, rules or guidances? What can we do if new or changed regulations or directives harm our clients?
MCLE: 1.5 hours
,
Presenters will discuss some of the pitfalls that continue to confront Medi-Cal applicants and beneficiaries, even as the program has undergone significant changes over the past several years.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
This webinar will explore an applicant or tenant's right to a reasonable accommodation for criminal activity prior to adverse action by the housing provider.
,
This is the fourth training in our 2016 Disability Civil Rights Webinar Series.
,
This is the second in a series of Disability Rights Law webinars that will offer an overview of relevant legal authority, as well as advocacy tips and practical resources.
MCLE: 1 hour (Elimination of Bias)
,
This webinar will discuss California's Traffic Ticket Amnesty Program, including advocacy efforts directed at facilitating its implementation.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
Explains the Maximum Family Grant rule to both advocates and attorneys.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
Covers Electronic Court Filings (ECF) filings and attorney admissions and other useful tips for attorneys and paralegals/legal secretaries.
MCLE: 1 hour
Organization Website
Twitter: @Western_Center
Facebook: Facebook
Primary geographic focus: California Statewide, Northern California, Southern California
Organization Type: Provider, Research/Policy/Organizing
LAAC Membership Type: Members
Lists: IOLTA-Funded, IOLTA Support Centers
Tags: Benefits, Civil Rights, Consumer Protection, Disability: Mental Health, Health Care, Housing: Homelessness, Language Access, Law School Clinics, Poverty, Prisoners Rights
Acronym or short name: WCLP
Western Center on Law & Poverty leads the fight in the courts, counties and capital to secure housing, health care and a strong safety net for low-income Californians.
Western Center focuses on increasing the supply of affordable housing, preserving the existing supply of low-income housing, and preventing homelessness; implementing health care reform, extending coverage to the uninsured and indigent, expanding mental health services, and stopping illegal debt collection practices; advocating for Californians served by CalWORKs, CalFresh, SSI and General Relief, and other critical programs; due process rights and language access issues and ensuring that legal services programs will be fairly paid for their work.
Western Center, California’s oldest and largest legal services support center, was created in 1967 by a passionate group of attorneys and legal scholars from USC, UCLA and Loyola law schools.
Western Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP)
PRESS/RESEARCH FROM THIS SOURCE
News StoryPalo Alto: Council to hear Buena Vista appeal
Jason GreenWestern Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP), Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, San Jose Mercury News
April 10, 2015
Residents of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park appeal decision to close the park and to approve the relocation assistance package offered.
PRESS/RESEARCH MENTIONING/INVOLVING THIS SOURCE
News StorySolano County settlement would offer alternatives to traffic fines
San Francisco ChronicleAugust 8, 2017
Advocates for California motorists who face mounting fees for traffic tickets took another step to ease the burden, a settlement that seeks to offer options to paying fines that many people can’t afford.
News Story
In California, Landlords Threaten Immigrant Tenants with Deportations
Kriston CappsAtlantic, The
April 5, 2017
Housing lawyers are reporting a troubling trend: Landlords exploiting the growing fear of immigration authorities to evict tenants, raise rents, and clear residents from gentrifying neighborhoods.
News Story
‘License Suspension Should Never be Punishment for Poverty:’ ACLU, Advocates Sue DMV
NBC Bay AreaOctober 26, 2016
Legal advocates, including four LAAC members, sue the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
News Story
Drivers License Bill Passes State Assembly Panel
Santa Monica LookoutJune 21, 2016
SB 881 stops the automatic suspension of driver’s licenses for low-income people with minor traffic offenses who fail to appear in court or to pay initial fines that snowball into huge financial burdens.
News Story
Legal Coalition Demands Traffic Court Policy Changes
Sydney JohnsonEast Bay Express (Oakland)
March 24, 2016
News Story
Alameda County sued over food stamp delays
Matthew ArtzContra Costa Times
October 1, 2015
Plaintiffs want Alameda County to ensure that they stop continuing to process applications late.
News Story
California’s Obamacare exchange criticized for not fixing enrollment, tax errors
Chad TerhuneLos Angeles Times (LA Times)
August 21, 2015
The Health Consumer Alliance of San Diego, representing several legal aid organizations, sent a letter to Covered California complaining about problems with the implementation of the health laws.
News Story
County Program for Poorest of Poor Discriminates Against Mentally and Developmentally Disabled
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA)November 18, 2015
Failure to accommodate the disabled poor draws lawsuit against L.A. County Department of Public Social Services.
News Story
A frenzied start for state’s traffic ticket amnesty program
Lee RomneyLos Angeles Times (LA Times)
November 14, 2015
After the first month of implementation of California's new traffic amnesty program, civil legal aid advocates are wary of a system fraught with inconsistencies.
News Story
Palo Alto: Council to hear Buena Vista appeal
Jason GreenWestern Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP), Law Foundation of Silicon Valley, San Jose Mercury News
April 10, 2015
Residents of Buena Vista Mobile Home Park appeal decision to close the park and to approve the relocation assistance package offered.
Opinion
Don’t let child poverty undermine school readiness: guest commentary
Los Angeles Daily News (LA Daily)June 16, 2015
The Legislature and Governor should repeal the MFG rule in the 2015-2016 budget as a first step in combating childhood poverty.
News Story
L.A. Housing Authority $3.3-million trash pickup settlement approved
Ruben VivesLos Angeles Times (LA Times)
March 7, 2015
A $3.3 million settlement was approved following the Western Center on Law and Poverty's 2012 lawsuit against the Los Angeles Housing Authority's illegal charge for trash collection.
News Story
New bill to restore suspended drivers licenses
Annie TaylorCanyon News
SB 405 would give amnesty to people who have had their licenses suspended due to outstanding traffic fines and court penalties.
TRAININGS FROM THIS SOURCE
Developing and Documenting Defenses in Public Benefit Fraud Cases
Dec 5, 2018This training will review key case law and strategies to identify, access, and develop evidence in fraud cases in CalFresh, CalWORKs and other public benefit programs.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
Unlawful Detainers A-Z: Covid Requirements – Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities
Oct 28, 2021,
An Inside View of the State Budget
Nov 15, 2021MCLE: 0 hours
,
Dusting off the federal Administrative Procedure Act: Understanding the breadth & limits of agency power
Mar 3, 2017How far can a federal agency go in promulgating or changing new regulations, rules or guidances? What can we do if new or changed regulations or directives harm our clients?
MCLE: 1.5 hours
,
2016 Disability Civil Rights Law Series: Select Medi-Cal Eligibility, Enrollment and Managed Care Issues for People with Disabilities in California
Nov 17, 2016Presenters will discuss some of the pitfalls that continue to confront Medi-Cal applicants and beneficiaries, even as the program has undergone significant changes over the past several years.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
2016 Disability Civil Rights Law Series: Reasonable Accommodations for Criminal Activity Related to an Individual’s Disability
Sep 26, 2016This webinar will explore an applicant or tenant's right to a reasonable accommodation for criminal activity prior to adverse action by the housing provider.
,
2016 Disability Civil Rights Law Series: Public Benefits
Aug 17, 2016This is the fourth training in our 2016 Disability Civil Rights Webinar Series.
,
2016 Disability Civil Rights Law Series: Providing Legal Services to Clients with Disabilities (With Focus on Mental Health)
Mar 18, 2016This is the second in a series of Disability Rights Law webinars that will offer an overview of relevant legal authority, as well as advocacy tips and practical resources.
MCLE: 1 hour (Elimination of Bias)
,
LAAC: California Traffic Ticket Amnesty Program
Sep 22, 2015This webinar will discuss California's Traffic Ticket Amnesty Program, including advocacy efforts directed at facilitating its implementation.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
Lifting the Cap on the Maximum Family Grant (MFG) Rule
May 22, 2013Explains the Maximum Family Grant rule to both advocates and attorneys.
MCLE: 1 hour
,
Navigating US District Court Filings and Admissions
Nov 30, 2012Covers Electronic Court Filings (ECF) filings and attorney admissions and other useful tips for attorneys and paralegals/legal secretaries.
MCLE: 1 hour
This page last modified: Fri, April 27, 2018 -- 12:46 pm ET