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2013 Western Center Annual Report
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Our Mission: Western Center leads the fight in the courts, counties and capital to secure housing, health care and a strong safety net for low-income Californians
History: Western Center on Law & Poverty, 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. Our founders sought to create a unique organization, driven by the belief that low-income Californians deserve the finest possible legal representation before every institution that shapes their lives.
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With a focus on healthcare, affordable housing, public benefits and access to justice, our attorneys, advocates, legal services co-counsel and pro bono partners attain real-world, system-wide solutions on behalf of 8.2 million low-income Californians though class action and other impact litigation, legislative and policy advocacy, negotiations and collaborations with state and local governments and support for frontline legal aid programs.
We are supported by individual and law firm donations, foundation grants and attorney fee awards. Western Center receives no federal funding.
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Litigation: Working with local legal aid programs and pro bono co-counsel, we bring class action and other high-impact cases that address basic rights for all low-income Californians.
Legislative/Policy Advocacy: Our advocates sponsor and support bills, oppose harmful legislation and educate policymakers and other stakeholders on behalf of our clients.
Administrative Advocacy: Western Center monitors, advocates, negotiates and works collaboratively with federal, state and local agencies to protect and expand the rights of our clients.
Support Center Assistance: Western Center delivers in-depth legal support, including technical assistance by e-mail and telephone, on-site trainings, conferences, webinars, publications, and litigation support to 700 legal aid attorneys at nearly 100 legal services organizations throughout the state.
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| Legislative Blog and Notes
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The Senate and the House Consider Cuts to Food Stamps 05/13/2013 Notes on the Legislature  Both the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate will mark up the farm bill this week in their respective committees, considering cuts to our Nation's most important anti-hunger program.
Debating Opportunity: Budget Votes Expected Today 03/21/2013 Notes on the Legislature Budget debates are underway in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C. today. Western Center lays out what is at stake and invites law makers to embrace a vision of opportunity and prosperity for all of us by restoring and reinvesting in our state and in our country.
U.S. Senate Reintroduces Farm Bill 02/05/2013 Notes on the Legislature On the first day of the 113th Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) reintroduced the version of the Farm Bill the Senate passed last June. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Michigan), Chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry has indicated that she considers this a “placeholder bill.”
Western Center Responds to the 'Fiscal Cliff' Deal 01/02/2013 Notes on the Legislature Today, the President signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act that ends some tax credits for the wealthy, extends benefits for the unemployed and tax credits for working families and families with children. Western Center on Law and Poverty Responds.
Western Center Responds to Congress' Last Minute Farm Bill Deal 12/31/2012 Notes on the Legislature In the last hours of 2012, Congress is moving forward with a one year reauthorization of Farm and Nutrition policies, including the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). While this is welcome news for the 48 Million low-income Americans relying on the program to prevent hunger, there is still a great deal of uncertainty for America’s poorest families as we enter the New Year.
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Did You Know??
- A minimum wage worker in California earns only $1,340/month.
- In order to afford the fair market rent of a 2-bedroom apartment ($1,249/mo), a minimum wage worker would have to work 120 hours/week, 52 weeks per year.
- In Los Angeles, a tenant needs to earn $25/hour to afford the average 2-bedroom apartment.
- 6.6 million Californians lack health insurance – the highest in the nation.
- 70% of uninsured children are in families where the head of household has a year-round, full-time job.
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