Low-income Washingtonians Need Legal Help

This fall the state Office of Civil Legal Aid published a new report (commissioned by the Supreme Court and prepared by a team at WSU) describing the frequency and type of legal needs of low-income state residents: 2015 Washington State Civil Legal Needs Study Update (Oct. 2015).

The picture is not rosy.

More than 70% of the state's low-income households experience at least one civil legal problem each year on matters affecting the most fundamental aspects of their daily lives, including accessible and affordable health care; the ability to get and keep a job; the right to financial services and protection from consumer exploitation; and the security of safe and stable housing. (p. 3)

And it's worse than it was: "The average number of problems per household increased from 3.3 in 2003 to 9.3 in the latest, 2014 survey." Id.

Next Wednesday the Washington Supreme Court will hear presentations about the report. The event is open to the public. It will probably be available on TVW.