Holding Open the Door to Better Health for Veterans Exposed to Toxins
More than 533,000 veterans live in Washington State, with many low-income veterans experiencing barriers to health care, housing, and employment. Northwest Justice Project’s King County Veterans Project provides legal assistance in VA benefits and housing at no cost to hundreds of veterans across the state every year.
Domestic Violence Victims and Court Challenges to DV Firearm Surrender Laws
Firearm surrender laws pertaining to perpetrators of domestic violence are being challenged in both the Washington State Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court. In this interview, we ask Northwest Justice Project Executive Director César Torres about the nature of those challenges and what they could mean for victims of domestic violence.
Raheela: Domestic violence survivor flees abuse, secures long-term protection
"2005 marked a huge turning point in my life as I moved from Pakistan to the United States. With so many changes, I craved the stability of a family. Within a few years, I became a wife and then a mother. As our children grew older, my marriage became unhealthy and abusive. My husband’s abuse affected me and my four kids for several years, and I knew that the best option was to leave. The turning point was in 2020 when I found out that my husband was molesting our children."
Beatriz: Unjustly fired employee forces company to change sick leave policies
Honoring National Hispanic and Latino Heritage Month: “I moved here from Guerrero, Mexico, with my family when I was 19. I’m about to turn 50 and I’ve been working in packing all of this time. My most recent job was demanding. We did a range of tasks, from packing to quality control. We sorted apples, pears and other products, throwing away rotten fruit, repackaging the good ones.”
Honoring Latina-o-x Heritage: Washington farmworkers’ fight for justice persists
The Latina-o-x community makes up the great majority of Washington State’s agricultural workers. As a community of color, culturally and linguistically distinct, it is no accident this critical labor force faces chronic unsafe working conditions, harassment, and economic exploitation. During the pandemic, Congress passed a law to protect workers who got sick. However, many agricultural employers engaged in campaigns to rid workers rumored to have spread COVID.
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Can a city banish its poor? WA’s highest court is asked to weigh in.
Being in the Top 10 isn’t always a good thing. Especially when it comes to homelessness. Washington state ranks number nine in the number of unsheltered homeless individuals, or those living on the street, and in the top five of the total number of people experiencing homelessness. The crisis escalated between 2020 and 2022, when that number jumped by 10%.
How the Dehumanized Debt Industry Works
As consumer debt soars across the United States and more people fall behind on payments, debt collection cases are crowding the courts. Individuals in the lowest income bracket are three times more likely to face debt collection actions compared to those in the highest income bracket.
Here, we interview Scott Kinkley, staff attorney in NJP’s Spokane office. His specialty area of practice is consumer protection, and especially all things having to do with debt and debt collectors. Scott has pioneered NJP’s work in defense of low-income clients dealing with unjust debt for the past 11 years.
Anita triumphs over unjust debt (video)
"I would tell people to reach out for legal assistance as early as possible and that you don't have to fight debt collectors alone – particularly when they trample on people's rights."
Crushed by Unlawful Debt Collection
Anita Belcher, a single working grandmother of color raising three of her grandchildren, was shocked when 25% of her wages were inexplicably garnished without warning. Ms. Belcher was a victim of "sewer service," a common practice of debt collectors to falsely claim a defendant has received notice of a debt collection lawsuit.
Keeping The Doors to Health Care Open
During the COVID-19 public health emergency, Washington's Health Care Authority (HCA) and the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) extended coverage for all people on Medicaid (Apple Health). This extension, a lifeline for many, ended March 31, 2023, and renewals and eligibility reviews resumed.