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Consumer Fraud
A 2004 survey by the Federal Trade Commission showed that nearly 25 million adults—11% of the adult population—were victims of fraud during the year studied. With increasing access to personal information over the Internet and through electronic databases, the issue is growing in importance. Since 1992, Bet Tzedek has successfully combated consumer fraud in many forms.

Employment Rights
As the gap widens between the rich and poor in Los Angeles County, unskilled and other low-income workers find themselves increasingly marginalized in jobs that fail to comply with basic wage and safety regulations. These laws—governing minimum wage, overtime and safety conditions--protect workers regardless of their immigration status. Bet Tzedek’s Employment Rights Project advocates on behalf of a variety of low-wage workers, including day laborers, domestic workers, and those working in the garment, construction, car wash, restaurant and janitorial industries, who have been illegally denied wages that they have earned.

Family Caregiver Project
AARP and the National Alliance for Caregiving estimate that 4.3 million adults in California provide unpaid care to an adult relative or friend. The total value of caregiving is estimated at $276 billion, clearly demonstrating the importance of this underrecognized and uncompensated act of love. Bet Tzedek recognizes the special needs of caregivers. For more than a decade, the Family Caregiver Project has provided legal representation, as well as education and outreach to health-care professionals and caregivers alike about legal issues related to care giving.

Government Benefits
Bet Tzedek represents clients on a range of state and federal government benefits, including Social Security, Medi-Cal, Medicare, SSI/Disability, In-Home Supportive Services, Veterans’ Benefits, CalWORKS, Food stamps, WIC and Adoption Assistance, KinGAP. Bet Tzedek represents clients in appeals, helps clients to apply for benefits, and identifies appropriate programs.

Holocaust Reparations
Since our founding in 1974, free legal assistance to low-income survivors of the Holocaust has been a signature program at Bet Tzedek. Bet Tzedek is one of a handful of agencies in the world that offers free help to survivors who are applying for reparations, pensions and other benefits from Germany and other European countries. Bet Tzedek also has been at the forefront on issues affecting all survivors, including Holocaust-era insurance coverage, the effect of reparations on eligibility for public benefits, and the waiver of wire transfer fees for survivors who receive reparations.

Housing
From the condo conversions of the 1970s to the slum housing epidemic of the 1990s to the affordable housing crisis of today, Bet Tzedek has focused on housing as one of its core issues. Bet Tzedek litigates against slumlords and defends tenants from illegal evictions through two of its housing-related programs. A third housing program addresses the issue of healthy housing.

Kinship Care
Bet Tzedek created the Kinship Care Project in 2002 to address the needs of the more than 88,000 children in Los Angeles County who live with their grandparents. The Kinship Care Project offers a variety of services to grandparents and others who are raising their young family members. When parents are unavailable or unable to care for their children, grandparents often step in to provide a loving home and to keep their loved ones safe from the emotional turmoil of foster care placements. Research confirms the common sense understanding that kinship care offers greater stability than living with non-relatives.

Nursing Home Advocacy Project
For over two decades, Bet Tzedek’s Nursing Home Advocacy Project (NHAP) has influenced and shaped the development of Bet Tzedek’s nationally regarded elderlaw practice. Begun in 1981, the project provides effective legal assistance for frail, elderly residents of nursing homes.

Senior Legal Services
For more than two decades, Bet Tzedek has comprehensively served the legal needs of low-income seniors in Los Angeles and Bet Tzedek staff currently meet with clients at more than 30 senior centers through the County. Because of our expertise, Bet Tzedek is the exclusive provider of free legal services to low-income seniors through contracts with the City and County of Los Angeles.

Sova Advocacy
Thanks to funding from The Jewish Federation Council’s Alleviating Jewish Poverty Initiative, Bet Tzedek is partnering with other agencies in a groundbreaking project to provide holistic services to low-income clients. Their funding allowed us to hire a full-time advocate to dedicate time to this effort. Bet Tzedek’s advocate offers legal services to clients at SOVA Resource Centers, while other agencies provide job training, health care, and other social services. This project is the first of its kind in Los Angeles and greatly benefits clients who receive comprehensive services under one roof.