Our Response to the Challenges of COVID-19
Legal Aid SMC is working tirelessly to continue providing crucial legal services and advocating for those in need. With so many low-income families impacted by the economic and health effects of the pandemic, we knew we had to adapt quickly. In March 2020, our staff shifted to working remotely and pivoted programming to identify emerging areas of need.
Below are just a few of the ways we have adjusted to better serve our clients and community during this crisis.
The most dramatic impact of COVID-19 on our clients is its effect on their housing. Since shifting to remote work, the Legal Aid SMC Housing Program receives numerous calls each day from residents worried about eviction, including over 350 during the month of October alone. This number of calls for help is unprecedented. Our attorneys worked with a cohort of community groups to advocate with the Board of Supervisors for adoption of emergency temporary tenant protection measures. Legal Aid staff also play a critical role in enforcing state and federal COVID-19-related protections, and educating community partners and residents about these complicated legal provisions. We are continuing to identify and uplift policies that center the needs of local families.
Our Peninsula Family Advocacy Program helps families access medical care and educational services. When public schools closed, we expanded our services to provide important legal and practical information to medical providers and our client families. For example, we have disseminated information about pandemic food stamp benefits, the San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund, and places to receive financial assistance with rent and other utilities. We are continuing to provide these updates to the community while also representing students who are struggling with distance learning.
Shelter-in-place orders led to a rise in reports of domestic violence, as victims of abuse are unsafe but unable to leave their homes. Though court services are limited, our Pro Bono Program is still connecting victims to volunteer attorneys to obtain emergency protection.
In response to the Public Health Emergency, the state has placed a moratorium on all Medi-Cal negative actions. The Health Consumer Center has maintained its outreach efforts to let people know that they should not be receiving any negative actions, and of they do, we are available to assist them in removing the negative action.
Many immigrant families facing unemployment are especially worried because they didn’t qualify for stimulus checks or other pandemic relief. Several of our LIBRE Program staff quickly worked with private funders, the county Board of Supervisors, and community partners to create the San Mateo County Immigrant Relief Fund. They’re continuing to make sure clients can access important public benefits without fear.
You can find the most up-to-date information from Legal Aid SMC around COVID-19 and links to resources on our website.