Public Interest Law Project

THE PURPOSE OF THE PUBLIC INTEREST LAW PROJECT IS TO (1) RENDER LEGAL SERVICES TO LOW INCOME PERSONS WHO MAY BE IN NEED THEREOF AND ARE FINANCIALLY UNABLE TO PAY FOR THE SAME; AND (2) PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING, RESEARCH, AND LITIGATION SUPPORT TO CALIFORNIA LEGAL AID ORGANIZATIONS.

INCLUSIVE AFFORDABLE HOUSINGPILP'S HOUSING WORK IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT CALIFORNIANS IN NEED OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING. WE FOCUS ON EQUITABLE USE AND OWNERSHIP OF LAND TO INCREASE, PROTECT, AND PRESERVE AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND TENANT PROTECTIONS FOR LOWER INCOME CALIFORNIANS. WE SPECIALIZE IN AFFORDABLE AND FAIR HOUSING; LAND USE, INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT AND REDEVELOPMENT, RELOCATION ASSISTANCE, PRESERVATION OF SUBSIDIZED HOUSING, AND LANDLORD-TENANT LAWS. IN 2022, WE ENGAGED IN HOUSING ELEMENT ADVOCACY IN OVER 24 JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE STATE WITH OUR LEGAL SERVICES PARTNERS, INCLUDING: SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATING TO ENSURE KERN COUNTY'S COMPLIANCE WITH ITS HOUSING ELEMENT OBLIGATIONS, AND ENSURING THE COMPLETE IMPLEMENTATION OF FRESNO COUNTY'S HOUSING ELEMENT PROGRAMS AS PREVIOUSLY ORDERED BY THE FRESNO COUNTY SUPERIOR COUNTY IN COMMUNIDADES UNIDAS POR UN CAMBIO VS. FRESNO COUNTY.

PROTECTING AND ADVANCING CIVIL RIGHTS OF UNHOUSED PERSONSCALIFORNIA IS HOME TO MORE THAN HALF OF ALL UNHOUSED PEOPLE, MANY IN UNSAFE CONDITIONS WITHOUT ACCESS TO BASIC NECESSITIES INCLUDING FOOD, SHELTER, AND HEALTH CARE. BLACK CALIFORNIANS ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY REPRESENTED IN THE UNHOUSED POPULATION, AS ARE AMERICAN INDIAN OR ALASKA NATIVE AND PACIFIC ISLANDER CALIFORNIANS. PILP PROTECTS AND ADVANCES THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF UNHOUSED PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE; FIGHTS THE CRIMINALIZATION OF HOMELESSNESS; AND WORKS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO BENEFITS AND SERVICES THAT ARE DESIGNED TO HELP UNHOUSED PEOPLE GET AND KEEP STABLE HOUSING. IN 2022, WE CONTINUED TO FIGHT FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF UNHOUSED PERSONS IN SAN LUIS OBISPO AND SANTA ROSA.

BREAKING DOWN BARRIERS TO EQUITABLE DISBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC BENEFITSTHOSE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLLIC BENEFITS IN CALIFORNIA INCLUDE CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, FEMALE-HEADED, AND LOWER INCOME FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN WTHAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IDENTIFY AS FEMALE HOUSEHOLDS AND BLACK OR LATINA. PILP BREAKS DOWN SYSTEMIC BARRIERS TO THE EQUITABLE DISBURSEMENT OF PUBLIC BENEFITS, PRIMARILY FOCUSED ON CALFRESH; CALWORKS; GENERAL ASSISTANCE/RELIEF; AND OTHER FUNDS TARGETED TO HELPING UNHOUSED PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, IMMIGRANTS, FOSTER YOUTH, AND DISASTER SURVIVORS CAN MEET THEIR BASIC NEEDS. IN 2022, WE ENFORCED STATE LAWS REGARDING TIMELY PROCESSING OF CALFRESH BENEFITS - RESULTING IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES' INCREASE IN PROCESSING RATES OF EXPEDITED APPLICATIONS FROM 70% TO 94.5%.