National Center For Law And Economic Justice Inc

TO ADVANCE THE CAUSE OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, INDIVIDUALS & COMMUNITIES.

ENFORCING CIVIL RIGHTS - TRAVERSING ACROSS A NUMBER OF SUBSTANTIVE AREAS OF THE CENTER'S WORK, NCLEJ ADVOCATES TO SECURE CIVIL RIGHTS FOR A RANGE OF PROTECTED CATEGORIES INCLUDING PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, PERSONS OF COLOR, IMMIGRANTS AND WOMEN. THAT INCLUDES CENTER WORK IN A BROAD VARIETY OF CONTEXTS INCLUDING EACH OF THOSE OUTLINED ABOVE. THE WORK RECOGNIZES THAT ALTHOUGH ADVOCACY FOR ECONOMIC JUSTICE OVERLAPS HEAVILY WITH ADVOCACY ON BEHALF OF MARGINALIZED INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS AND MAY BRING SUBSTANTIAL BENEFITS TO MEMBERS OF THOSE GROUPS, IT DOES NOT ALWAYS DIRECTLY CONFRONT THE RELATED BUT INDEPENDENT QUESTION OF INEQUALITY RESULTING FROM DISCRIMINATION AGAINST MEMBERS OF MARGINALIZED GROUPS.

COMBATTING UNFAIR DEBT COLLECTION: NCLEJ PROTECTS LOW-INCOME DEBTORS AND LEADS THE FIGHT AGAINST ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES THAT UNDERMINE FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES' ECONOMIC STABILITY. ALTHOUGH THOSE PRACTICES MAY BE IMPOSED BY PRIVATE OR PUBLIC ACTORS, INCREASINGLY,THAT WORK FOCUSES ON ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION POLICIES AND PRACTICES BY GOVERNMENTAL ACTORS. WE CHALLENGE ATTEMPTS TO COLLECT FINES AND FEES FROM PERSONS TOO POOR TO PAY AND AGAINST WHOM THE GOVERNMENT MAY, FOR EXAMPLE, TAKE AWAY A DRIVER'S LICENSE OR INTERCEPT A STATE TAX REFUND.

ADVOCACY REGARDING PUBLIC ENTITLEMENTS: USING AMBITIOUS LITIGATION AND CREATIVE LEGAL STRATEGIES, NCLEJ PROTECTS ACCESS TO ALL PUBLIC ENTITLEMENTS PROGRAMS. THE CENTER PROTECTS THE RIGHTS OF LOW-INCOME PERSONS TO APPLY FOR CRITICAL ASSISTANCE, PROTECTS FAMILIES FROM UNLAWFUL TERMINATION OF BENEFITS, AND FIGHTS TO ENSURE FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS IN THE OPERATION OF FOOD STAMPS, CASH ASSISTANCE, CHILDCARE, AND MEDICAID PROGRAMS. WORKING WITH ADVOCATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NCLEJ ALSO WORKS TO ENFORCE LEGAL PROTECTIONS AND PROMOTE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR LOW-INCOME FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS. OUR ADVOCACY HAS PROMOTED MEDICAID, STATE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMS AND SIMILAR BENEFITS FOR HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.

SUPPORT FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS: NCLEJ ADVOCATES FOR DECENT WAGES AND SAFE AND FAIR WORKPLACES ON BEHALF OF LOW-WAGE WORKERS, THE MOST VULNERABLE WORKERS IN OUR COUNTRY. LITIGATION AND PROJECTS INCLUDE COMBATTING GENDER PAY DISPARITY, PREGNANCY DISCRIMINATION, AND WAGE THEFT, AND CHALLENGING EXEMPTIONS TO WAGE AND HOUR PROTECTIONS FOR, E.G., HOME HEALTH CARE, AGRICULTURAL AND RESTAURANT WORKERS. THE CENTER WORKS IN SUPPORT OF GRASSROOTS WORKER CENTERS AND OTHER ORGANIZERS AND HAS BEEN IN THE VANGUARD OF THE WORKER-DRIVEN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY (WSR) MOVEMENT.