Legal Help for the Homeless; A Work in Progress
Seattle University's Homeless Rights Advocacy Project, or HRAP does not represent individuals. It does, however, advocate for legal and policy changes that keep homeless individuals out of the criminal justice system, and provides them with the housing and services they need.
If you are homeless or facing the threat of homelessness and need legal help, depending upon the type of legal issue you have, and where you are, there may be attorneys who can help. Criminal and Civil legal service providers are listed separately, King County providers are listed first. Outside king County providers second, Statewide providers and resources are listed third.
If you are low income person and have an outstanding warrant or have been charged with a crime, or are in jai., and need an attorney contact:
Snohomish County Office of Public Defense
3000 Rockefeller Avenue M/S 209
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-3500
Toll
Free: 800.445.5771
 |
| Legal help for the homeless |
If you are homeless or facing the threat of homelessness and need legal help, depending upon the type of legal issue you have, and where you are, there may be attorneys who can help. Criminal and Civil legal service providers are listed separately, King County providers are listed first. Outside king County providers second, Statewide providers and resources are listed third.
If you are low income person and have an outstanding warrant or have been charged with a crime, or are in jai., and need an attorney contact:
1.
King County Department of Public
Defense
dpd@kingcounty.gov
Phone: 206-296-7662
Fax: 206-296-0587
TTY: 711 Relay Service
Phone: 206-296-7662
Fax: 206-296-0587
TTY: 711 Relay Service
The King
County Department of Public Defense website has information on eligibility for
an attorney, where its screening offices are (and what you need to bring to
screening meetings)
The information on the website can help you:
2.
City of Seattle- Municipal Court Indigent Screening Program
Seattle Justice Center
600 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104-1900
(206) 615-0705
Seattle Justice Center
600 Fifth Avenue
Seattle, WA 98104-1900
(206) 615-0705
IF YOU ARE IN KING COUNTY AND NEED
HELP WITH CIVIL LEGAL ISSUES:
1.
The King County Bar Association sponsors Neighborhood Legal
Clinics staffed by volunteer lawyers that provide a 30-minute free
consultation with a volunteer lawyer for low income individuals with civil
legal problems in King County. Attorneys
will:
·
Provide legal advice for civil legal issues.
They cannot help with criminal legal issues.
- Help
answering papers, summons and requests
- Provide
referral and resource information.
They will not represent you in court.
Referrals are offered (for qualifying individuals) for:
·
Bankruptcy
·
Consumer debt problems
·
Family law issues
·
Domestic Violence
·
Social security overpayments
·
Vacation of criminal records
You
have to make an appointment before attending a clinic. To make an appointment call 206- 267-7070
Tuesday - Thursday from 9:00am- 12:00 pm. Appointments are scheduled no more
than 7 days in advance. The scheduling line receives a high volume of calls so
you may experience wait times between 5 to 10 minutes.
For
more information on clinic locations and times go to: http://www.kcba.org/pbs/NLC.aspx#nlcpage4.
2.
Open Door Legal Clinic provides people experiencing homelessness with legal advice to
help individuals deal with legal and financial issues, such as:
- Child support and visitation
- Criminal warrants
- Debts
- Court fines and re-licensing
The Clinic holds 4 weekly legal
clinics for residents of the Union Gospel Mission's shelters or other partner
organizations around the region, as well as weekly walk-in clinics for anyone
who needs help. The Clinci has locations in:
- Downtown Seattle
- Bellevue
- Everett
3.
Another
alternative for civil legal problems, is to call 2-1-1. 2-1-1 is a call service that connects those
who qualify with legal aid providers.
The
number can be called Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and
6:00 p.m. From a pay/public phone, call 1-800-621-4636.
YOU CAN CONTACT CERTAIN SPECIALIZED
LEGAL SERVICES DIRECTLY.
LANDLORD TENANT/EVICTION
1. If
you are low income person having landlord
tenant problems, including falling behind on rent, the King County Bar Association’s Housing Justice Project is a walk-in
clinic with volunteer attorneys.
Priority service is given to renters facing eviction. who may be able to help.
Call: 206-267-7090
The Clinic is open Monday–Friday,
8–10:30 am, in the King County Courthouse in Seattle and Kent Regional Justice
Center. The Seattle location also open Monday, 3:45-4:45 pm.
2.
Low
income renters facing eviction, repair problems, deposit loss, subsidy
termination, lockouts and other issues can call Catholic Community Services’ Legal Action Center.
Call: 206-324-6890
3. Low income renters can receive counseling
about their rights (but not legal representation) from the Seattle Tenants’ Union through its Tenants Rights Hotline or walk
in clinics.
Tenants’ Rights Hotline number: 206-723-0500. Calls to the hotline are answered during the
following times.
Monday: 10am-12:30pm and 1:30-4pm
Tuesday: 10am-12:30pm and 1:30-4pm
Wednesday: 10am-12:30pm and 1:30pm-4pm
Thursday: 10am – 12:30pm and 1:30pm
– 4pm
The Tenants’ Union also holds walk in
clinics. Bring any paperwork
and/or notices you’ve received regarding your housing issue:
- Columbia
City Clinic
Monday and Tuesday 1:30 – 4:00pm
The Walk In clinic is NOT OPEN on Wednesdays. Call the Hotline instead.
Interpretation available in many languages.
Tenants’ Union Office
5425 Rainier Avenue S Ste. B
Seattle, WA 98118
Address & Directions.
- Northeast
Clinic
Thursdays 4:00 – 6:00pm
North Helpline Food Bank
12736 33rd Ave NE, Seattle, WA 98125
Please bring.
PUBLIC
BENEFITS
Solid
Ground’s Family Assistance Program provides information and referral, advice and direct legal
representation to individuals who have had their state public assistance
benefits (e.g., Basic Food/food stamps, Medicaid, ADATSA, TANF, Disability
Lifeline) reduced, terminated or denied. The program advocates on behalf of
clients with DSHS caseworkers, represents clients in administrative hearings
and advises clients representing themselves.
PHONE:
206.694.6742 (TTY: 7.1.1)
206.694.6742 (TTY: 7.1.1)
FAX:
206.694.6737
206.694.6737
ADDRESS:
Family Assistance at Solid Ground
1501 North 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98103-6708
Family Assistance at Solid Ground
1501 North 45th Street
Seattle, WA 98103-6708
http://www.solid-ground.org/Programs/Legal/Family/Pages/default.aspx
IF
YOU ARE OUTSIDE KING COUNTY AND NEED HELP WITH CRIMINAL ISSUES:
If you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, you may ask the
court to appoint a public defense attorney to represent you. The
determination of eligibility for a court appointed attorney is handled by
the local court.
The following counties and cities outside of King County provide
local public defender agencies to represent adults and juveniles who are
accused of a crime and cannot afford to pay a lawyer. These agencies may
be reached at the phone numbers listed. To find public defense help in a
county or city not listed below, contact the court in
which the charges are filed.
in
which the charges are filed.
Benton & Franklin Counties
Office of Public Defense
7122 W Okanogan Pl, Bldg A
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 222-3700
7122 W Okanogan Pl, Bldg A
Kennewick, WA 99336
(509) 222-3700
Clallam Public Defender
516 E. Front Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 452-3307
516 E. Front Street
Port Angeles, WA 98362
(360) 452-3307
Clark County Indigent Defense
Coordinator
1408 Franklin St. Room 106
P.O. Box 5000
Vancouver, WA 98666
(360) 397-2175
1408 Franklin St. Room 106
P.O. Box 5000
Vancouver, WA 98666
(360) 397-2175
Cowlitz County Office of Public
Defense
1801 1st Ave Ste. 1A
Longview, WA 98632
(360)578-7430
1801 1st Ave Ste. 1A
Longview, WA 98632
(360)578-7430
Grant County Public Defense
35 C Street NW, Suite 401
P.O. Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823
(509) 754-6027
1-800-572-0119
35 C Street NW, Suite 401
P.O. Box 37
Ephrata, WA 98823
(509) 754-6027
1-800-572-0119
Kitsap County Office of Public
Defense
614 Division Street, MS-40
Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 337-7015
614 Division Street, MS-40
Port Orchard, WA 98366
(360) 337-7015
Mason County Public Defense
411 North Fifth Street
Shelton, Washington 98584
(360) 427-9670
411 North Fifth Street
Shelton, Washington 98584
(360) 427-9670
Pierce County Department of
Assigned Counsel
(also serves municipal courts of Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Fircrest)
949 Market Street, Suite 334
Tacoma, WA 98402-2194
(253)798-6062
(also serves municipal courts of Tacoma, Gig Harbor and Fircrest)
949 Market Street, Suite 334
Tacoma, WA 98402-2194
(253)798-6062
Skagit County Office of Assigned Counsel
121 Broadway
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 336-9405
121 Broadway
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
(360) 336-9405
Snohomish County Office of Public Defense
3000 Rockefeller Avenue M/S 209
Everett, WA 98201
(425) 388-3500
City of Spokane Public Defender
824 North Monroe
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 835-5955
824 North Monroe
Spokane, WA 99201
(509) 835-5955
Yakima County Department
of Assigned Counsel
104 North 1st Street
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 574-1160
104 North 1st Street
Yakima, WA 98901
(509) 574-1160
For more information see
http://www.opd.wa.gov/index.php/public-defender-offices
If you are low-income, call the Northwest Justice Project’s toll-free hotline, CLEAR (Coordinated
Legal Education, Advice and Referral). You can call CLEAR Monday-Friday from
9:15 am to 12:15 pm, at 1-888-201-1014.IF YOU CANNOT GET THROUGH,
the CLEAR line will record your phone number.
You will receive a call back.
For further
information, go to: https://nwjustice.org/get-legal-help
STATEWIDE
IMMIGRATION
The
Northwest Immigrants’ Rights Project provides advice and direct legal help to
immigrants, asylum-seekers and refugees, regardless of immigration status
throughout Washington. Eligibility
depends upon several factors. NIRP has
offices statewide.
http://www.nwirp.org/get-help/
Western Washington Office
615 2nd Ave #400
Seattle WA 98104
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30AM -
12:00PM and 1:00PM - 4:00PM
Phone: 206.587.4009
Toll
Free: 800.445.5771
Granger Office
(serving individuals in Asotin, Benton, Columbia,
Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas, Klickitat, Walla Walla Whitman & Yakima
counties)
Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30AM - 12:00PM and 1:00PM - 4:30PM
Phone: 509.854.2100
Toll Free: 888.756.3641
Wenatchee Office
(serving individuals in Adams, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry,
Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Spokane & Stevens counties)
Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00AM - 5:00PM
Phone: 509.570.0054
Toll Free: 866.271.2084
Please note: The Wenatchee office does not have a
receptionist. In order to reach them, leave a detailed message with your
NAME and PHONE NUMBER as well as a BRIEF EXPLANATION of your immigration issue,
and a staff member will return your call.
GENERAL
LEGAL INFORMATION
Washington Law Help offers helpful basic legal
information on a broad range of issues at:
http://www.washingtonlawhelp.org/