Unhoused Advocacy Fellow, Health

Law Foundation of Silicon Valley•San Jose, CA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Law Foundation of Silicon Valley (“Law Foundation”) is dedicated to advancing the rights of historically excluded individuals and families throughout Santa Clara County. Through our legal services, strategic advocacy, and educational outreach, we empower over 14,000 individuals and families each year. Our Housing, Children & Youth, Health and Pro Bono Programs use legal advocacy as a catalyst for social change, creating innovative solutions to the legal challenges facing low-income communities in our region. With a dedicated team of over 85 employees, we are the largest provider of free legal services in the South Bay region of the Bay Area. The Health Program provides free legal advice and representation to individuals in Santa Clara County who identify as living with mental health disabilities. We also provide free legal help to patients of Valley Homeless Health Program, Valley Health Center Downtown Clinic, Gender Health Center, and individuals experiencing homelessness in Santa Clara County. The Legal Fellow will be assigned to the Health Program, specifically focusing on unhoused outreach and legal advocacy, including advocacy related to economic rights, RV tow hearings, property claims, small claims matters, and other related legal issues. This project also engages in local policy advocacy regarding unhoused individuals and coalition building between organizations supporting unhoused individuals. You will undertake a project focusing on adult housing insecurity and homelessness. In California, older adults are estimated to be the fastest-growing group in the unhoused community. From 2017 to 2021, California’s overall older adult population grew by 7%, but the number of people 55 and over who sought homelessness services increased 84% — more than any other age group — according to the state’s Homeless Data Integration System. There is a need to focus on the older population facing economic and housing instability. Accordingly, during this fellowship, your time will be spent working on unhoused outreach and handling legal cases, with a specific focus on serving unhoused adults. You will identify these clients through Unhoused outreach and various existing referral sources. Outreach will be conducted in encampments, shelters, and with partner organizations. You will be responsible for developing new and maintaining existing partnerships with organizations supporting older unhoused people. Through this outreach, you will identify older adults who are facing insecure housing or are currently unhoused and assist them with various legal issues. In addition to the outreach, your legal advocacy for clients will include assisting clients with pre- and post-eligibility public benefits matters at the County and Federal level, identifying and applying for temporary and ultimately permanent housing, representing clients at RV tow hearings, assisting with property claims against the City of San Jose and other relevant parties, assisting on small claims matters, representing clients on criminal expungement matters, and providing other related legal assistance, as needed.

Requirements

Applicants must be current members in good standing with the California State Bar, plan to take the next California Bar Examination, or be graduating law students eligible to sit for the upcoming exam and in the process of obtaining a positive moral character determination.
Prior experience or a general understanding of legal aid services and the communities most impacted.
A passion for social justice and race equity.
Able to work sensitively and productively to identify, investigate, and resolve client problems.
Excellent verbal, interpersonal, research, writing, analytical, interviewing, and organizational skills.
Able to work independently and as a part of a team.
Excellent time and caseload management skills; ability to work independently to get your tasks done.
Have a valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to attend hearings, home visits, and outreach events.
Basic computer proficiency and willingness to learn new technology as needed.
Awareness of how race and other identities shape our work with communities; commitment to inclusion and belonging.
Alignment with the mission and values of LFSV.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 or similar, with openness to learning new tools.

Nice To Haves

Recent graduates and junior-level attorneys are encouraged to apply.
Bilingual in English and Spanish or Vietnamese (preferred).
Interest or passion in community-driven advocacy, policy advocacy, and/or impact litigation preferred.
Bilingual in English and Spanish

Responsibilities

Engage in outreach designed to educate the unhoused community about their legal rights and to connect them to our legal services.
Provide legal advocacy and representation to unhoused adults.
Represent and advise clients on public benefits issues (including Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Medi-Cal) to help clients maintain or prevent the loss of entitled benefits, as needed.
Engage in community-based advocacy, coalitions, system reform, pre-litigation, and legislative efforts that concern or impact unhoused clients.
Assist with client intake, referrals, and administrative tasks such as data entry, as needed.
Participate in Law Foundation activities, such as program meetings, special events, and fundraisers.
Assist underserved populations, including communities of color, LGBTQIA+ community, immigrant/refugee communities, individuals living with physical and/or mental health disabilities, unstably housed individuals, people using drugs, and system-impacted individuals in line with the Law Foundation’s Race Equity Inclusion principles.

Benefits

19 paid holidays per year
3-5 weeks of vacation per year
12 days of sick leave per year
Up to 6 months of parental leave
Fully paid medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums
A robust Employee Assistance Program that includes free/discounted mental health therapy and wellness services for employees and their dependents
An additional monthly stipend for those who are bilingual and utilize their language abilities in the course of their job
An annual budget for professional development
Employer paid CA Bar license
The flexibility to work a hybrid schedule
An office building that offers a fully equipped gym, outdoor terrace, convenient on-site parking, bike storage, lounge areas, and 24/7 security