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La Oficina de Asuntos de Inmigrantes del Condado de Los Ángeles da la bienvenida al anuncio de cambio de regla de carga pública 150 150 dcba

La Oficina de Asuntos de Inmigrantes del Condado de Los Ángeles da la bienvenida al anuncio de cambio de regla de carga pública

La Oficina de Asuntos de Inmigrantes (OIA) del Condado de Los Ángeles en el Departamento de Asuntos Comerciales y del Consumidor (DCBA) da la bienvenida al anuncio del 8 de septiembre de 2022 de la nueva regulación de “carga pública” por parte del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los EE. UU. (DHS). Esta regla fortalece las protecciones para las familias inmigrantes que buscan acceder a programas, recursos y servicios críticos ofrecidos por el condado de Los Ángeles y otras agencias públicas. Si bien la administración Biden ya revirtió la política de carga pública de la era Trump en marzo de 2021, el anuncio de hoy aclara cuales programas se consideran en una determinación de carga pública, así como los muchos programas y recursos importantes que no se consideran. Es importante destacar que el uso de los programas de red de seguridad por parte de un niño u otro miembro de la familia nunca afectará al solicitante de inmigración de un familiar o miembro del hogar bajo esta regla.

Este cambio de regla, que entra en vigencia formalmente el 23 de diciembre de 2022, es un recordatorio importante de que los inmigrantes elegibles y los miembros de su hogar pueden acceder a programas de vivienda, nutrición y atención médica sin preocuparse por el impacto en su estatus legal migratorio. Esto es especialmente importante considerando la reciente expansión de Medi-Cal en California a todas las personas elegibles por ingresos de 50 años o más, independientemente de su estatus migratorio. La regla aclara que solo la atención institucional a largo plazo a expensas del gobierno, o el uso de asistencia en efectivo para el mantenimiento de ingresos, como SSI, TANF (CalWorks) y asistencia en efectivo estatal, local y tribal, pueden considerarse en una determinación de carga pública.

Lamentablemente, miles de familias inmigrantes en el condado se han visto disuadidas de buscar recursos críticos durante la pandemia debido a preocupaciones sobre la carga pública, incluso después de que la administración Biden revocó la regla de la administración de Trump. El anuncio de hoy brinda una oportunidad importante para deshacer ese daño. La OIA espera colaborar con organizaciones comunitarias, agencias gubernamentales y otras partes interesadas para ayudar a las familias inmigrantes a conocer este importante cambio de reglas y acceder de manera segura a muchos programas y recursos importantes sin preocuparse por las consecuencias del estatus migratorio.

Para obtener más información, comuníquese con la OIA al 800-593-8222 para hablar con un consejero.

LA County, Partners Host Unaccompanied Children, Families 150 150 Tenny Minassian

LA County, Partners Host Unaccompanied Children, Families
Youth participating in arts and crafts during the Office of Immigrant Affairs' Welcome Day

Youth participates in arts and crafts during the Office of Immigrant Affairs’ Welcome Fair.

On Saturday, September 25 the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA), in the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs (DCBA), and its partners hosted a free community event to provide vital information and services for unaccompanied children and their families.

The Welcome Fair for Unaccompanied Children and their Families was a one-day event at East Los Angeles College, bringing together dozens of County departments, LA City agencies, and community organizations to provide services in a welcoming, safe and supportive environment. Available resources were provided to the families in attendance, including immigration orientations; educational access services; employment and career guidance; health and wellness information; nutrition and food resources; and arts, culture, and recreational activities.

Along with OIA, co-hosts included Los Angeles County Chair of the Board of Supervisors Hilda L. Solis; Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project a program of Catholic Charities of Los Angeles Inc. (Esperanza); Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s Office of Immigrant Affairs; Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE); and Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE).

“In launching the emergency intake site for unaccompanied children at the Pomona Fairplex in partnership with President Biden, I made a commitment to ensure unaccompanied children would be welcomed by our community and network of organizations, including our County family,” shared Chair Solis. “I am so thankful to today’s partners in helping us make sure that youth and their sponsors receive the support they need to live healthy and productive lives.”

“Los Angeles is a place of belonging, where immigrants have made their homes for centuries,” said Mayor Garcetti. “We are proud to welcome these children and their families, and help connect them with the support and resources needed to start a new life.”

“This Welcome Fair demonstrates the power of community,” said Rafael Carbajal, DCBA Director, “where organizations and individuals come together to serve young people and their families in a time of need.”

“The LA County Office of Immigrant Affairs is here to welcome all immigrants and their families into the LA County family, and to help them get access to wraparound support services,” said Rigo Reyes, OIA Executive Director. “From health and nutrition to arts and culture and everything in between, there is always valuable help for everyone.”

“Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project serves thousands of unaccompanied minors by providing free legal representation and community education,” said Kimberley Plotnik, Esperanza’s Director. “The Welcome Fair communicates a powerful and timely message – that all immigrants are welcome in Los Angeles and that local stakeholders are standing together to support them.”

“We know that these children and their families will need to overcome many barriers to learning as they navigate through uncharted territory in a completely new environment,” said Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Debra Duardo, MSW, Ed.D. “These resources are essential to ensuring that all students have equitable access to a quality education that addresses the needs of our most vulnerable school communities.”

Other agencies providing services included: LA County Dream Resource Center; Los Angeles Unified School District’s School Enrollment Placement and Assessment (SEPA) Center; Math on the Border; Johns Well Child and Family Center; La Linterna at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles; Clínica Romero; Amanecer Community Counseling; USC Telehealth; International Institute of Los Angeles; The Echo Park Refugee Welcoming Center; Homies Unidos; YMCA; Opportunities For Youth; San Fernando Valley Refugee Children Center; and Los Angeles-based artist and educator Phung Huynh.

El condado de Los Ángeles y organizaciones comunitarias acoge a niños no acompañados y sus familias en la Feria de Bienvenida

LOS ÁNGELES – El sábado 25 de septiembre, la Oficina de Asuntos de Inmigrantes del Condado de Los Ángeles (OIA), en el Departamento de Servicios para Consumidores y Negocios (DCBA), y sus socios, organizaron un evento comunitario gratuito para proporcionar información y servicios vitales para los niños no acompañados y sus familias.

La Feria de Bienvenida para Niños No Acompañados y sus Familias fue un evento de un día en East Los Angeles College, que reunió a docenas de departamentos del Condado, agencias de la Ciudad de Los Ángeles y organizaciones comunitarias para brindar servicios en un ambiente acogedor, seguro y de apoyo. Se proporcionaron los recursos disponibles a las familias asistentes, incluyendo orientaciones de inmigración; servicios de acceso a la educación; empleo y orientación profesional; información sobre salud y bienestar; nutrición y recursos alimenticios; y las artes, la cultura y las actividades recreativas.

Junto con OIA, los coanfitriones incluyeron a la Presidenta de la Junta de Supervisores del Condado de Los Ángeles, Hilda L. Solís; Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project, un programa de Caridades Católicas de Los Ángeles Inc. (Esperanza); la Oficina de Asuntos de Inmigrantes del alcalde de Los Ángeles, Eric Garcetti; Clero y Laicos Unidos por la Justicia Económica (CLUE); y la Oficina de Educación del Condado de Los Ángeles (LACOE).

“Al lanzar el sitio de admisión de emergencia para niños no acompañados en el Pomona Fairplex en asociación con el presidente Biden, me comprometí a garantizar que los niños no acompañados sean bienvenidos por nuestra comunidad y red de organizaciones, incluida nuestra familia del condado,” compartió la presidenta Solís. “Estoy muy agradecida con los socios de hoy por ayudarnos a asegurarnos de que los jóvenes y sus patrocinadores reciban el apoyo que necesitan para vivir vidas saludables y productivas.”

“Los Ángeles es un lugar de pertenencia, donde los inmigrantes han hecho sus hogares durante siglos,” dijo el alcalde Garcetti. “Estamos orgullosos de dar la bienvenida a estos niños y sus familias, y ayudar a conectarlos con el apoyo y los recursos necesarios para comenzar una nueva vida.”

“Esta Feria de Bienvenida demuestra el poder de la comunidad,” dijo Rafael Carbajal, Director de DCBA, “donde organizaciones e individuos se unen para servir a jovenes y a sus familias en momentos de necesidad.”

“La Oficina de Asuntos de Inmigrantes del Condado de Los Ángeles está aquí para dar la bienvenida a todos los inmigrantes y sus familias a la familia del Condado de Los Ángeles, y para ayudarlos a obtener acceso a servicios de apoyo integrales,” dijo Rigo Reyes, Director Ejecutivo de OIA. “Desde la salud y la nutrición hasta las artes y la cultura y todo lo demás, siempre hay una ayuda valiosa para todos.”

“Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project atiende a miles de menores no acompañados al proporcionar representación legal gratuita y educación comunitaria,” dijo Kimberley Plotnik, Directora de Esperanza. “La Feria de Bienvenida comunica un mensaje poderoso y oportuno: que todos los inmigrantes son bienvenidos en Los Ángeles y que las partes interesadas locales se unen para apoyarlos.”

“Sabemos que estos niños y sus familias tendrán que superar muchas barreras para el aprendizaje a medida que navegan a través de un territorio desconocido en un entorno completamente nuevo,” dijo la Superintendente de Escuelas del Condado de Los Ángeles, Debra Duardo, MSW, Ed.D. “Estos recursos son esenciales para garantizar que todos los estudiantes tengan acceso equitativo a una educación de calidad que aborde las necesidades de nuestras comunidades escolares más vulnerables.”

Otras agencias que brindan servicios incluyen: LA County Dream Resource Center; Centro de Colocación y Evaluación de Inscripción Escolar (SEPA) del Distrito Escolar Unificado de Los Ángeles; Matemáticas en la frontera; Johns Well Child and Family Center; La Linterna en el Hospital de Niños de Los Ángeles; Clínica Romero; Consejería Comunitaria Amanecer; USC Telesalud; Instituto Internacional de Los Ángeles; El Centro de Acogida de Refugiados de Echo Park; Homies Unidos; YMCA; Oportunidades para los jóvenes; Centro de Niños Refugiados del Valle de San Fernando; y la artista y educadora Phung Huynh, con sede en Los Ángeles.

Office of Immigrant Affairs Welcomes Artist Phung Huynh as Creative Strategist 150 150 dcba

Office of Immigrant Affairs Welcomes Artist Phung Huynh as Creative Strategist

The Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs is honored to welcome celebrated artist Phung Huynh to the department as Creative Strategist for the Office of Immigrant Affairs (OIA) as part of the Creative Strategist Program administered by the LA County Department of Arts and Culture.

Phung Huynh is a Los Angeles-based artist and educator whose art practice focuses on drawing, painting, and public art. Her work explores cultural perception and representation. Known for exploring the complexities of Southeast Asian refugee communities through drawings that include the iconic pink donut box, Huynh will apply her artistic practice and her own experience as a refugee and immigrant to her work with OIA staff on strategies to build trust and increase participation in LA County support services.

Phung Huynh

Phung Huynh, Photo by City of Los Angeles COLA program

“The talents of immigrant artists have helped to make Los Angeles County the nation’s creative capital,” said Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors Chair, Hilda L. Solis, Supervisor to the First District. “Phung Huynh’s work speaks to the immigrant story and makes a perfect match to help the Office of Immigrant Affairs celebrate the contributions of immigrants that make LA County a vibrant and welcoming place for all.”

“It’s an honor to welcome Phung Huynh and her impressive artistry and ideas into our Office of Immigrant Affairs,” said Rafael Carbajal, Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs. “We extend our gratitude to the Department of Arts and Culture for selecting OIA as a place where art can help us better engage and serve those who have made Los Angeles their home.”

“Artists have the power to inspire and advance belonging and identity in communities. The Creative Strategist Program brings that power and creative problem solving into the service sector,” said Kristin Sakoda, Director of the Department of Arts and Culture. “We believe that this cross-sector partnership with the Office of Immigrant Affairs and the amazing, community-minded Phung Huynh will find innovative ways to build more access to arts and cultural resources for immigrants in Los Angeles County.”

“The role of artist is deeply connected to the role of cultural builder who serves the community,” said Huynh. “Intentional engagement and making art through a social justice lens are central to my practice, as well as my commitment to immigrant communities, women’s issues, and BIPOC solidarity. As an artist, educator, mother, and activist, I hope that when people engage with my work, they are positively impacted and rethink their relationships with their own communities and what sort of impact they can make.”

The Creative Strategist program is a recommendation of the LA County Cultural Equity and Inclusion Initiative, which is implemented by the Department of Arts and Culture. The program places artists and creative professionals in residence at a County agency, applying artistic practices towards the development of innovative solutions to complex social challenges.

In addition to her new assignment with OIA, Huynh has been commissioned with other County public art projects and recently earned a City of Los Angeles (COLA) Individual Artist Fellowship through LA City’s Department of Cultural Affairs. As one of 14 COLA fellows, Huynh’s works are currently being featured virtually at the Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery.

DACA Resources 150 150 Tenny Minassian

DACA Resources
Note: This information page is being reviewed and edited following the June 18 Supreme Court ruling. Check back for updates.

LEGAL REPRESENTATION, KNOW YOUR RIGHTS, OTHER RESOURCES

  1. L.A. Justice Fund:

The L.A. Justice Fund is a partnership among Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, and the philanthropic community and was created to provide legal representation to Los Angeles County residents who cannot afford an attorney and who are facing imminent deportation. Please see the list of L.A. Justice Fund Legal Service Providers on our OIA website an LA Justice Resource Directory.

In the event you don’t qualify for L.A. Justice Fund representation, you should contact the agencies on this list of pro-bono legal service providers for free or low-cost immigration advice.

  1. Know Your Rights

Everyone, documented or undocumented, is entitled to certain rights in the United States:

  • RIGHT TO NOT OPEN YOUR DOOR, unless the immigration agent has a warrant to enter that is signed by a judge or magistrate and has your name on it.
  • RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT and not answer questions from immigration agents.
  • RIGHT NOT TO SIGN ANY PAPERS without first talking to an attorney.
  • RIGHT TO TALK TO AN ATTORNEY at your own expense.

The Office of Immigrant Affairs prepared a Know Your Rights Pocket Card, which includes a “Red Card” that you may give to immigration agents. Print and keep this Pocket Card handy: oia.lacounty.gov.

  1. Other Resources and Information

The Los Angeles County departments listed below may have additional helpful information.

Alternate Public Defender: 

  • Information regarding reduction, dismissal or expungement of previous criminal convictions (post-conviction review)

Child Support Services: 

  • Copy of your child support payment records

Children and Family Services: 

  • Copy of your file if you were under their care 

Consumer and Business Affairs: 

  • Assistance with immigration fraud complaints
  • Records of consumer complaints you filed with the department

Domestic Violence Council: 

  • Copy of your case records
  • Assistance and resources for victims of domestic violence

Office of Education:

  • School enrollment and attendance records
  • Verification of graduation

Health Services: 

  • Copy of your medical records
  • Letter to verify your visits to its facilities
  • Birth records

Mental Health: 

  • Copy of your mental health records
  • Letter to verify your visits to its mental health clinics

 Military and Veterans Affairs: 

  • Copy of your military records

 Public Defender: 

  • Information regarding reduction, dismissal or expungement of previous criminal convictions (post-conviction review)

Public Health: 

  • Copy of your medical records
  • Copy of Immunization records

Public Library:

  • Verification of library visits record at no cost

Public Social Services:

  • Copy of your case records and information about DPSS programs that DACA recipients may qualify for

Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk:

  • Marriage license
  • Birth certificate

Treasurer and Tax Collector:

  • Property tax payment records

Workforce Development, Aging and Community Services:

  • Records of your visits or participation at County community centers

AVOID IMMIGRATION FRAUD:

Dishonest immigration consultants often defraud consumers by charging fees for illegal or misleading services including giving legal advice, claiming to have inside “connections” or saying they know special laws. Consumers who deal with these people often lose their money and can hurt their chances to adjust their immigration status. Immigration consultants may include: “notarios”, paralegals or anyone offering immigration-related services. No matter what they call themselves, immigration consultants must follow the law.

Learn how to prevent, report, and resolve immigration fraud HERE.

DACA Facts 150 150 Tenny Minassian

DACA Facts
Note: This information page is being reviewed and edited following the June 18 Supreme Court ruling. Check back for updates.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT DACA

This document provides general information, and legal questions should be directed to an attorney. The Office of Immigrant Affairs can assist you with finding free or low-cost immigration advice.

  1. New DACA Applications or Renewals
  • After September 5, 2017, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) no longer accepts new DACA applications.
  • If you currently have DACA or if you have ever had DACA previously, the USCIS will accept renewal applications.
  • Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has advised that it will not target DACA recipients or applicants for renewal for enforcement. However, before submitting your renewal application you should consult with an immigration attorney if you have had any criminal convictions while receiving DACA benefits. For a list of legal and financial resources click here. Note that any criminal record may put you at risk with immigration authorities. You should discuss your individual circumstances with an experienced immigration attorney before you decide whether to renew your DACA.
  1. Risk of Deportation

A 2012 Executive Order granted DACA recipients “deferred action” from deportation. This means that a DACA recipient was deferred from removal action based on discretionary prosecutorial authority. Revoking DACA implies that DACA recipients will be treated in the same manner as all other undocumented immigrants. It does not necessarily mean that DACA recipients will be prioritized for deportation. However, the Administration has stated that it is prioritizing for removal anyone convicted of a crime or otherwise posing a threat to public safety.

  1. Work Permit

The employment authorization document (EAD) does not currently indicate that it was granted as a result of DACA. Therefore, an EAD should be valid until its expiration date.  You have the right to work legally until your work permit’s expiration date.

Your employer does not have the right to ask you whether you are a DACA recipient or how you got your work permit.

Your employer does not have the right to fire you, put you on leave, or change your work status until after your work permit has expired. If your expiration date is nearing, your employer may ask you for an updated work permit but cannot take any action against you until after it is expired.

Please contact the Los Angeles County Office of Immigrant Affairs if you believe that your employer has discriminated or retaliated against you due to your immigration status.

  1. Social Security Number (SSN)

If you have not applied for a social security number, you should do so immediately while your DACA and work permit are still valid. You may continue to use your SSN obtained under DACA for educational, banking, and housing purposes, even if your DACA expires or is revoked. Your SSN cannot be used for employment purposes without a valid work permit.

  1. Driver’s License and State ID

California Assembly Bill 60 (AB 60) allows you to apply for a California Driver’s License, even if your DACA expires or is revoked. The California Department of Motor Vehicles will grant you a Driver’s License if you meet their requirements regardless of your immigration status. Visit the DMV website for details on how to obtain a Driver’s License under AB 60: dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/detail/ab60.

  1. Travel on Advance Parole

Advance parole is a permit to allow someone who does not have a valid immigrant visa to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad.  Advance parole is no longer available for DACA recipients.

  1. Medical Coverage

Currently, there are no changes to the Medi-Cal program for DACA recipients.  DACA recipients will continue to receive full-scope, state-funded Medi-Cal as long as they otherwise meet all Medi-Cal eligibility requirements.

  1. Student Financial Aid

If you are receiving state-funded financial aid while attending California colleges, you will not lose your financial aid. Stated-funded financial aid was made available to DACA recipients based on the California Dream Act. Regardless of DACA status, the California Dream Act will remain intact. The California Student Aid Commission will not share your personal information with the federal government or immigration enforcement agencies.

What is DACA? 150 150 Tenny Minassian

What is DACA?
Note: This information page is being reviewed and edited following the June 18 Supreme Court ruling. Check back for updates.

Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals

In June 2012, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program or DACA. The program provides qualifying individuals:

  • Permission to Stay– DACA provides permission for individuals to live, work, and study in the U.S. DACA benefits last for two years, and can be renewed.
  • Opportunity to Renew– DACA can be renewed every two years. You cannot age-out of the DACA program.
  • Benefits – DACA recipients can apply for a work permit and get a social security number and driver’s license.

Even though DACA grants lawful presence in the United States, it will NOT change your immigration status and is NOT a pathway to citizenship. DACA benefits do not extend to family members and can be terminated at any time.

WHO WAS ELIGIBLE FOR DACA?

DACA was available to individuals who:

  • Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
  • Came to the United States before reaching their 16th birthday;
  • Had continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
  • Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of applying for DACA;
  • Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012;
  • Were currently in school, had graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, had obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or was an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
  • Had not been convicted of a felony, a significant misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and did not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.
  • For more details on eligibility requirements visit the USCIS’s Frequently Asked Questions page or consult with an attorney.
News Updates 150 150 Tenny Minassian

News Updates
[inel_list][inel_listitem]USCIC Announces Public Charge Implementation Date Following Supreme Court Ruling — January 30, 2020. Read announcement[/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]OIA Executive Director Rigo Reyes Discusses Public Charge with Spectrum News — January 25, 2020 Click to watch segment[/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]Alert from L.A. County following court action to block implementation of Final Public Charge Rule — October 22, 2019

Federal court judges in California and several other states have ordered that the Department of Homeland Security cannot implement and enforce the Final Rule on Public Charge Inadmissibility (Final Rule), which was set to go into effect on October 15, 2019. The court orders also postpone the effective date of the Final Rule until the cases are fully resolved, which could take months. This means that the current Public Charge Rule (without the recently adopted changes related to Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and federal housing programs, among other things) remains in effect until further notice.

[/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]Media Release: Comment of the County of Los Angeles on Proposed Public Charge Rule — December 10, 2018
Read More[/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]Comment of the County of Los Angeles on Proposed Public Charge Rule — December 10, 2018
Read More[/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]L.A. County BOS: Opposing the Proposed Public Charge Rule — October 2, 2018
Read the Full Motion[/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]L.A. County BOS Send Letters to Department of Homeland Security, U.S House of Representatives, United States Senate and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra   — October 5, 2018
5 Signature Letters from the Board of Supervisors [/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]Statement from Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis on Public Charge  — October 2, 2018
Read More[/inel_listitem][inel_listitem]Statement from Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl on Public Charge — October 2, 2018
Read More[/inel_listitem][/inel_list]

Self-Help Legal Access Centers 150 150 Andrew Veis

Self-Help Legal Access Centers

Developed and funded by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the Self-Help Legal Access Center (SHLAC) program is administered by the Los Angeles County Department of Consumer and Business Affairs, and operated by Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS), Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA), and Community Legal Services (CLS).

[inel_tabs tabs_contents_font_color=”#000000″ titles_bg_color=”” current_title_font_color=”#020202″ animation_delay=”0″][inel_tab title=”WHAT WE DO”]The SHLAC program meets a critical need in Los Angeles County by providing information and resources to litigants that are representing themselves in court without the help of an attorney.

SHLACs:

  • Provide information about court procedures.
  • Provide required court forms.
  • Provide trained legal professionals to review court forms after they have been filled out.
  • Conduct workshops.
  • Provide one-on-one assistance.

Each SHLAC is staffed by a trained attorney, knowledgeable professionals, and volunteers.

There is no attorney-client relationship between SHLAC staff and SHLAC patrons. SHLAC staff does not go to court with the patrons they assist. The purpose of SHLAC is to provide information and resources to patrons so that they can effectively represent themselves in court.

SHLACs provide assistance for the following types of cases:

Family Law

  • Divorce
  • Paternity
  • Guardianship
  • Child Custody

Landlord/Tenant

  • Eviction
  • Unlawful Detainer

Name Change

Obtaining a Civil Restraining Order

Civil Complaint

Expungements

[/inel_tab][inel_tab title=”LOCATIONS AND HOURS”]All NLSLA run self-help centers to be closed on Friday, June 17, 2016.  To make up this time, All NLSLA run self-help centers will be open on Friday June 24, 2016 all day.

Services available by location

Van Nuys Self-Help Center Van Nuys Courthouse

6230 Sylmar Ave. Room 350, Van Nuys, CA 91401
Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 12pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 12pm Only

Pomona Self-Help Center Pomona Courthouse

400 Civic Center Plaza 7th Floor, Pomona, CA 91766
Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 12pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 12pm Only

Inglewood Self-Help Center Inglewood Courthouse

1 East Regent St. Room 107, Inglewood, CA 90301
Monday – Thursday 9am – 12pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Friday 9am – 12pm Only

Antelope Valley Self-Help Center Michael D. Antonovich Courthouse

42011 4th Street West Room 3700, Lancaster, CA 93534
Monday* – Thursday 8:30am – 12pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 12pm Only
(*court referrals are priority)

Long Beach Self-Help Center Long Beach Courthouse

275 Magnolia Ave., Room 3101, Long Beach, CA 90802
Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 12pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 12pm Only

Santa Monica Self-Help Center Santa Monica Courthouse

1725 Main St. Room 210A, Santa Monica, CA 90401
Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 12pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 12pm Only

Torrance Self-Help Center Torrance Courthouse

825 Maple Ave., Torrance, CA 90503
Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 12pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am – 12pm Only

Compton Self-Help Center Compton Courthouse

200 West Compton Blvd., 2nd floor Compton, CA 90220
Monday – Thursday 9am – 12pm and 1:30 – 5pm
Friday 9am – 12pm Only

Chatsworth Self-Help Center Chatsworth Superior Courthouse

9425 Penfield Ave., Room 2501 Chatsworth, CA 91311
Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 12:30pm and 1:30 – 4:30pm
Fridays 8:30am – 12:30pm Only

*Please plan to arrive by 8:30am or 1:30pm[/inel_tab][inel_tab title=”HISTORY”]There has been a steady increase in the number of litigants that represent themselves in California Courts. People that go to court without a lawyer are called “pro per” or “pro se” litigants. Pro per litigants represent a new challenge for the court system because they are often unfamiliar with court procedures and requirements. The Self-Help Legal Access Center (SHLAC) program was developed to help the large number of pro per litigants by providing information and resources to them. SHLACs help the court process run more smoothly and increase citizens’ feelings of satisfaction about the justice system.

The County of Los Angeles began funding the SHLAC program in 2000. Neighborhood Legal Services (NLS) was chosen in a competitive process to operate the centers. The first SHLAC opened in Van Nuys in October of 2000. Since then the County has funded eight additional facilities in Pomona, Inglewood, Antelope Valley, Long Beach, Santa Monica, San Fernando, Compton and Torrance.

[/inel_tab][inel_tab title=”STATISTICS”]

Number of visitors helped at a Los Angeles County sponsored SHLAC since SHLAC’s inception in 2000: More than 850,000

On average, percentage of SHLAC visitors that have a household income below the federal poverty line: 56 percent

On average, percentage of SHLAC visitors that speak a language other than English at home: 35 percent

On average, percentage of SHLAC visitors that are college graduates: Less than 14 percent

On average, percentage of SHLAC visitors that have a family law related legal issue: 72 percent

Volunteer hours donated to SHLACs in 2012: More than 45,000[/inel_tab][/inel_tabs]

Last update: March 10, 2017
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