Western Center's Multi-Pronged Approach to System-Wide Change:

Working across issue areas….

We specialize in large-scale impact litigation; hard hitting advocacy in the state's capitol and 58 counties; and support for legal aid and community organizations to building healthy communities in which residents have the opportunity to thrive.

• Safe and Affordable Housing. Western Center advocates for the production and preservation of quality affordable housing and the reduction and prevention of homelessness by protecting and expanding tenants' rights.
• Health Care. Western Center works to improve and expand health coverage, simplify eligibility and enrollment in Medi-Cal and indigent health care programs, and fights budget cuts to these critical programs.
• A Safety Net. Western Center ensures that public benefits are there for people when they need them, and that recipients get the educational and supportive services that will help them transition to independence. 

Employing a variety of tools….

• Impact Litigation. Each year, Western Center is at the forefront of high-impact cases that address basic rights for low-income people..
• Legislative Advocacy. Western Center's advocates have been called "the voice of the poor" in the state's capitol.
• Support of Legal Aid and Community Organizations. Western Center provides in-depth legal support for 76 frontline legal services organizations throughout the state.  Services include: Technical assistance, Staff training, Telephone and e-mail help desk, and Litigation support.
• Administrative Advocacy. Western Center monitors local and state agencies to ensure they follow the law.  We will negotiate or, if necessary, take legal action to protect and expand the rights of poor Californians.

• Impact Litigation. Our attorneys are impact litigation experts who have led the nation's landmark poverty law cases.  These cases include Serrano v. Priest, which established education as a fundamental constitutional right; Alford v. County of San Diego, which required counties to provide healthcare to the uninsured working poor; Hanson v. Department of Social Services, which led to the creation of the State's Homeless Assistance program; and Katie A. v. Bonta, which transformed LA County's foster care system. 
• Legislative Advocacy: Our work has helped secure $6.4 billion for affordable housing; generated $200 million in Food Stamp funds to California; garnered a Cost of Living Adjustment for the blind, aged and disabled receiving Social Security; helped prevent the Governor's proposed dismantling of CalWORKs, the safety net for families; and preserved more than $2 billion in social service funding.
• Support for Legal Aid & Community Organizations:  Our staff supports 750 legal services attorneys throughout California who collectively represent several million low income clients.  Our partnerships and statewide initiatives include the Health Consumer Alliance, the Redevelopment Housing Collaborative and numerous community-based networks.
• Administrative Advocacy. Our work has increased access to food stamps; extended emergency medical coverage to seniors and people with disabilities; saved programs for immigrants; and expanded job subsidies for working mothers.