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