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Thousands of Sacramento County Mental Health Clients Benefit From Settlement 01/24/2012 In the News  The settlement of Napper v. Sacramento County ensures that some 5,000 adults with significant psychiatric disabilities will continue to receive outpatient services from their current providers. Read more...
State Implements Lopez v. Wagner Settlement 01/24/2012 Success Stories This week, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) issued new state regulations resulting from the settlement of a lawsuit brought by the Western Center on Law and Poverty and Bay Area Legal Aid that will reduce hunger among low-income Californians.
Cash Aid Recipients Squeezed by Bank Fees 01/19/2012 Success Stories CalWORKs recipients are paying more than $20 Million a year in surcharges to banks in order to access their basic needs grants through the CalWORKs program. Stimied by legislative opposition from the banks, advocates turn to the California Department of Social Services lead efforts to remove the burden of surcharges from our poorest families.
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| “There is no group in this state, in my judgment, who has done more for the poor and dispossessed than WesternCenter.” |
| - John Burton, former President Pro Tem of the California Senate |
| “There is no group in this state, in my judgment, who has done more for the poor and dispossessed than WesternCenter.” |
| - John Burton, former President Pro Tem of the California Senate |
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Our Mission:
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History:
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Western Center opened its doors in 1967 in the midst of the nation's "War on Poverty" as a joint legal clinic of USC, UCLA, and Loyola Law Schools. In 1996, Congress cut off federal financial support for programs like Western Center. Today Western Center's cutting edge advocacy, litigation and educational work are supported by private donations, foundation grants, and attorney fee awards. Western Center receives no federal funding.
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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.
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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.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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| Legislative Blog and Notes
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Cash Aid Recipients Squeezed by Bank Fees 01/19/2012 Notes on the Legislature CalWORKs recipients are paying more than $20 Million a year in surcharges to banks in order to access their basic needs grants through the CalWORKs program. Stimied by legislative opposition from the banks, advocates turn to the California Department of Social Services lead efforts to remove the burden of surcharges from our poorest families.
Poll Reveals Deep Support for Food Stamps, Opposition to Cutting Program 01/19/2012 Notes on the Legislature By an overwhelming margin, American voters oppose cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, as a way to reduce government spending, according to new poll data released today by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).
The Future is Now: An Alternative Vision for CalWORKs in 2012 01/11/2012 Notes on the Legislature The California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) is the largest anti-poverty program for families with children in the United States. But with the program at a crossroads, weakened by repeated budget cuts and increasing reliance on bookkeeping maneuvers to meet federal work participation, alternative approaches must be employed to achieve the goals of reduced caseloads and a true path to economic self-sufficiency for our poorest families.
Governor's January Budget Takes Aim at Health & Human Services 01/11/2012 Notes on the Legislature On January 5th, Governor Jerry Brown released his January budget proposal, which calls for significant changes to Medi-Cal, the California Work Opportunities and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, and childcare benefits. These cuts come after several years of cuts to health and human services programs. This just weeks after the catastrophic state Supreme Court's ruling last week that eliminated redevelopment agencies without an option to continue.
House Passes Bill Extending Aid for Families - But Blocking Access 12/16/2011 Notes on the Legislature Yesterday, the U.S. House of Representatives passed House Resolution H.R. 3659 by voice vote that extends the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through September 30, 2012. The state's TANF block grant is used to fund the California Work Incentives and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program, which provides basic needs grants and work-training for very poor families with children.
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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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