As joblessness rises, homeless shelters overflow, and the government slashes safety net programs, the need to defend low income families’ rights to subsistence aid, health care, and affordable housing is escalating. Who will enforce the obligations of government and the private sector to ensure decent living standards for all persons, regardless of income?
Since 1996, the Public Interest Law Project (PILP) has been answering that call. When a reactionary Congress stripped away class action and legislative lobbying powers from legal services programs in 1995, PILP was established to ensure that low-income families’ rights would not be legally compromised. As an IOLTA funded statewide support center, PILP spearheads the major litigation for legal services programs throughout California which they could not otherwise undertake. Our seasoned attorneys have litigated over 200 high impact cases, drafted key legislation protecting lower income families and are recognized experts in the fileds of public benefits and affordable housing.
The primary objectives and purposes of the Public Interest Law Project shall be to (a) render legal services to lower income persons who may be in need thereof and are financially unable to pay for the same; and (b) provide technical assistance, training, research and litigation support to public interest law programs and community based organizations on law and policy issues related to housing and community development, public benefits, health, education, welfare, and civil, consumer and economic rights.
