Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (Legal Aid SMC) knows our entire community is stronger when everyone has a home, economic security, and essential public services. Legal Aid pursues this vision by using the law to enforce the legal rights of low-income residents in civil cases. From helping survivors of domestic abuse get legal protection against their abusers, to fielding thousands of calls annually from renters at risk of becoming homeless, Legal Aid SMC makes sure the law works for all local residents.

While the legal system is a bedrock of American democracy, the right to representation by a lawyer is limited to serious criminal matters. In California, this right is not guaranteed in many life-changing circumstances, from education and family conflicts to workers’ rights and housing disputes. In some instances, those with access to and knowledge of the legal system may prevail regardless of the facts of the case. This is where Legal Aid SMC evens the playing field by providing free legal education, training, and advice to low-income communities, as well as litigating on behalf of those communities when necessary.

Sand Hill Foundation’s first grant to Legal Aid SMC was in 1998 to support a domestic violence prevention program. This work formed the heart of the relationship for nearly a decade in keeping with Sand Hill Foundation’s goal to stabilize families facing hardship. In 2017, when San Mateo County’s immigrant community was facing rapidly evolving immigration policy and aggressive enforcement activity, the foundation stepped up to support essential legal services to immigrants. As the relationship grew and community needs evolved, Sand Hill Foundation recognized the deep need for representation in housing-related cases as the number of eviction cases in the county involving families with children escalated.

Many times, a call to Legal Aid SMC’s call center is enough to empower families to maintain their housing. However, sometimes more expertise is needed. Over the past year, Legal Aid served 663 families and provided full litigation support to 88 tenant households facing eviction with 72% of those clients winning their cases, enabling them to remain stably housed. For clients forced to move out, Legal Aid SMC supports them in rehousing and often is able to secure a relocation settlement from the landlord. Sand Hill Foundation is proud to support this crucial housing stability work so that all families can thrive in our home county.