BayLegal’s Advocacy

Bay Area Legal Aid works both on our own and in partnership with a broad array of other advocacy organizations and public systems to address the systemic inequities facing our clients and their communities. During the COVID-19 pandemic this work has grown along with the need to help mitigate the pandemic’s disproportionate impacts on low-income families and communities in areas of housing, economic security, healthcare and public benefits access, and other issues. Public health should mean all of us!

The list on this page is dynamically updated, so check back frequently.

Updates on BayLegal’s Advocacy with the Judicial Council of California

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, News
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California Judicial Council Seal, which includes a picture of Roman goddess Minerva
The Judicial Council is the policymaking body of the California courts. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, BayLegal has worked with the Judicial Council to advocate for the needs of low-income litigants and for overall public safety within the legal system, supporting the statewide suspension of eviction proceedings along with court closures and changes to procedures to …

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Preventing Homelessness Among Former Foster Youth: BayLegal and Allied Organizations Present Guidelines for Counties

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, News
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Seven young people lounge against a wall smiling
Bay Area Legal Aid, together with the Youth Law Center and John Burton Advocates for Youth, has developed guidelines for counties to mitigate the increased risk of homelessness and housing instability among youth who exited foster care after age 18. Youth who are facing exit from the Transitional Housing Program-Plus (THP-Plus) during the current public …

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Advocating for Residents of Public and Subsidized Housing During the COVID-19 Emergency

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, News
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College dorms overlooking a lawn
Low income families residing in subsidized housing are particularly vulnerable to wage loss and layoffs during the shelter in place order. Even slight reductions in family income can have direct impact on a family’s ability to pay for housing, and a period of three weeks or more with reduced or no income may lead to …

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Supporting Protections for Unsheltered People and Homeless Service Providers During the COVID-19 Emergency

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, News
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Updated March 25, 2020 @ 5:05pm Bay Area Legal Aid has joined the ACLU of California and 86 other legal services, civil rights, and homeless services organizations in asking Governor Newsom to clarify that: Executive Order N-33-20’s (the shelter in place order’s) requirement that California residents stay in their homes does not apply to unhoused …

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BayLegal Calls for a Moratorium on Consumer Debt Collection

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, News, Other
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Rubber stamp with the text past due over an invoice document
On March 23, 2020, Bay Area Legal Aid and 15 allied legal services and consumer protection organizations submitted a letter to Governor Newsom requesting immediate steps to protect consumers as part of the state’s COVID-19 emergency response. In order to mitigate irreparable harm being done to consumers and communities throughout the state, we have requested …

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Advocating for an Emergency Moratorium on Poverty Tows in California

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, News
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Car being towed
Yesterday Bay Area Legal Aid joined 22 partner organizations in a coalition that has worked to stop “poverty tows” at the local and state level. We wrote to Governor Newsom asking that he issue an Executive Order placing an immediate moratorium on all vehicle tows, other than those necessary for public safety or criminal enforcement, …

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Advocating to Stop Eviction Proceedings and Enforcement Actions in Oakland During the COVID-19 Emergency

| By BayLegal
Categories: Advocacy, Homepage, News, Other
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BayLegal attorney Hilda Chan
Baylegal’s advocacy in alameda county In Alameda County, BayLegal has joined with partner organizations in advocating for a halt of at least 3 weeks’ duration in all unlawful detainer (UD) proceedings and eviction enforcements. On March 12, 2020, Bay Area Legal Aid joined our colleagues from the East Bay Community Law Center (EBCLC), Centro Legal …

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