The Advocacy Group

* Provide representation in housing cases, where clients’ homes or access to housing are threatened:

• Eviction. 
• Accessing subsidized housing. 
• Systemic code enforcement problems. 
• Water and utility shut-offs due to landlord failure to pay. 
• Privatized municipal foreclosure on taxes. 
• Property flipping schemes. 
• Predatory mortgages. 
• Mortgage scams. 
• Housing discrimination. 
• Equity stripping schemes. 

* Provide assistance to people who have been the victims of consumer fraud, scams, or deceptive practices:

• Predatory lending. 
• Collection practices. 
  • Repossession. 
  • Garnishment. 
  • Harassment by creditors. 
• Payday loans. 
• Installment sales. 
  • Consumer loans. 
  • Rent to own. 
  • “Easy Payment” plans. 
• Public utilities. 
• Unfair and deceptive sales practices. 
• Advice on bankruptcy. 
• Advice on credit consolidation. 
• Education about consumer rights. 

* Represents people denied public benefits or employment due to system-wide problems.

• Systemic benefit issues, such as county offices placing limits or obstacles to benefits applications. 
• Denials of procedural rights in applying for or continuing public benefits. 
• Systemic wage and hour issues. 
• Discrimination in employment based on improper use of arrest records. 

* Help people who have been denied access to or full participation with government programs based on limited English proficiency.

• Law enforcement agencies. 
• Access to health services. 
• Access to government benefits and services.