The Project undertakes multi-faceted advocacy to serve low income persons, ranging from litigation to administrative and legislative advocacy and collaboration with community based organizations. Each year, attorneys participate in drafting or supporting state legislation to further protect the civil rights of lower income Californians.
Examples of ongoing legislative and administrative advocacy involving affordable housing and public benefits include:- Appointments to the state's Housing Element Working Group that ensured that all communities zone sites for affordable housing development "by right" and at minimum densities
- Negotiation of redevelopment legislation to ensure the production, preservation, and replacement of affordable housing in redevelopment project areas
- Appointment to statewide workgroup that developed Best Practice Guidelines to assist foster care youth in gaining access to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) prior to emancipation out of the state's care
- Development of SSI Transitions Project to ensure successful transition of foster youth with disabilities from foster care, improve transition planning for these youth, and develop comprehensive state and federal policies to address systemic issues