On July 10, 2024, LA Forward Institute, along with taxpayers Sylvia Aroth and Professor Gary Williams, and unhoused individual Kathy Coates, filed a fair housing lawsuit against the City of Los Angeles for obstructing the Venice Dell Community affordable and permanent supportive housing project.

Since January 2023, at the insistence of Councilmember Traci Park and LA City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, who both oppose the project, the City has been intentionally obstructing the remaining approvals to get the project across the finish line. These delays are undermining the City’s own housing policies and contributing to the city’s homelessness and affordability crisis.

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Housing & Community Stability

People’s Collective for Environmental Justice v. County of San Bernardino

In November 2022, San Bernardino County supervisors voted 4-0 to approve the Bloomington Business Park, a 213-acre industrial park that promises to bring several thousand jobs to Bloomington, a majority Latino community of 23,000 residents. Since then, developer Howard Industries has offered to buy out homes, while others have been relegated to dealing with the toxic air from transportation and construction and other families in rental homes have simply been left high and dry.

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Public Benefits

Perrone v. Rollins (USDA)

Western Center and Impact Fund have filed a class action lawsuit against the USDA to challenge the legality of withholding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during a government shutdown.

Due to the current government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits were at risk of not being paid. After federal court rulings, the Trump administration was ordered to release partial payments. As of November 6, 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has revised its plan, and beneficiaries will receive 65% of their typical monthly benefits for November.

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Access to Justice

CLINIC v. Rubio

This lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s sweeping suspension of immigrant visa processing for people from 75 countries. The lawsuit seeks to reaffirm that public benefits are a public good, not to be used as a gatekeeping weapon, and that authorized public programs cannot be used to deny lawful immigration.

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Join Us in Eliminating Poverty and Advancing Racial Justice

We know our work is not done until health care and housing are affordable, food is secure, and systemic racism is addressed. With your support, we will continue working to build a more just California in 2024 and beyond.

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2025 Annual Report

Western Center’s work in 2025 met a moment of extraordinary urgency. In one of the most challenging political moments in recent history, we fought rent gouging after the Los Angeles wildfires, defended the medical privacy of transgender youth seeking health care, protected access to food assistance during threats of a government shutdown, and advanced major reforms to combat the criminalization of poverty and strengthen support for low-income families.

This report also reflects the strength of the movement standing alongside us—our partners, donors, volunteers, advocates, and community members who continue to believe a more just California is possible. Western Center has always believed that ending poverty is not an impossible dream, but a responsibility.

This year’s report is especially meaningful as it features the work of Romare Bearden, one of the twentieth century’s most influential American artists. Known for his groundbreaking collage and photo-montage style, Bearden created layered works exploring Black American life, resilience, and community—themes that continue to shape Western Center’s mission.

We remain deeply grateful for your support and partnership in the fight for economic and racial justice for all Californians.

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