LEgal Services
Legal Clinics
Our Legal Referral & Advocacy Clinics (Legal Clinics) provide safe and confidential access to justice by empowering homeless individuals in addressing their legal issues with the support of our attorneys. Through our partnership with local attorneys, law students, and law firms, our Legal Clinics have supported over 1,500 civil and criminal cases since 2012.
Homeless Youth Legal (HYLAP)
With national estimates showing that close to 1.6 million children and youth experience homelessness without a parent or guardian and are at a high risk of being victimized on the streets, our Homeless Youth Legal & Advocacy Project (HYLAP) was launched in 2017 to address criminal defense issues that hinder youth experiencing homelessness from growth and independence and connect them to essential resources. As the only program of its kind in Southern California to empower homeless youth through pro-bono legal representation and personalized advocacy, HYLAP has represented over 230 clients, assisted with over 500 legal issues, and saved more than $500,000 in legal fees and fines.
Know Your Rights
Our Know Your Rights (KYR) card set serves as a “Bill of Rights” that explains the 7 areas of law most likely to affect people experiencing homelessness in response to the rising criminalization rates of unhoused individuals. This project serves to empower our homeless neighbors to be knowledgeable about their legal rights and enable them to also educate others.
Our KYR card set is uniquely designed to be pocket-sized and laminated for convenient storage and weather-proof protection. Spanish translations are also available.
