Program areas at Bay Area Legal Aid
Health care access, economic security, and consumer rights: in 2023, baylegal provided services to 6,812 low-income san francisco Bay Area individuals, including seniors, families with children, and people with disabilities in need of Legal assistance to access essential health care and public safety net programs such as medicare, medi-cal, supplemental security income (ssi), and calfresh. Baylegal also helped to remove financial impediments to housing, income, healthcare, and economic self-sufficiency for low-income consumers. Through this work, baylegal secured over $18.4 million in quantifiable benefits to help low-income Bay Area residents meet their basic needs and improve their self-sufficiency.baylegal also provides targeted services for vulnerable populations including foster and transition age youth, commercially sexually exploited children, youth with disabilities, mental health issues, and/or involvement in the dependency or delinquency systems, as well as veterans and people who were formerly incarcerated.
Domestic violence prevention: in 2023, baylegal provided integrated and holistic Legal services to help 5,158 low-income san francisco Bay Area survivors of inter-personal violence and their children escape abuse and build new independent and safe futures. Baylegal provided Legal assistance with obtaining restraining orders, child custody, divorces, child and spousal support, and other family law protections and supports. Baylegal also assisted immigrant survivors of physical and mental abuse, as well their children, in filing for immigration relief under the violence against women act (vawa) and the victims of trafficking and violence protection act. Through this work, baylegal secured over $13.7 million in quantifiable benefits in domestic violence, family law, and immigration matters, to help violence survivors achieve lasting safety and improve their self-sufficiency.
Housing and homelessness prevention: in 2023, baylegal helped 9,852 low-income san francisco Bay Area individuals including seniors, families with children, and people with disabilities avoid homelessness and preserve housing. Baylegal's advocacy to enforce housing laws and regulations also helped to expand affordable housing for low-income individuals throughout the Bay Area. Baylegal counseled and represented clients who faced illegal evictions, including eviction after foreclosure, discrimination, substandard housing, and other housing rights violations. Through this work, baylegal secured over $9.1 million in quantifiable benefits to help low-income Bay Area residents secure their basic need for safe, affordable, and habitable housing.