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Congress’ Games Mean People Go Hungry

“As one of the plaintiffs in a class action lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), brought by Western Center on Law and Poverty and Impact Fund, I am sharing my story because food should not be treated as “optional.” Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits are not a “nice to have,” they are a “need to have” for 40 million Americans, many of whom are children, seniors and people with disabilities. In a major victory, we secured October benefits for this year and years to come, but each month after is another fight.” -Jacqueline Benitez is a preschool teacher and full-time student living in Bellflower in Los Angeles County. She is a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against the USDA over SNAP benefits, represented by Western Center on Law and Poverty and Impact Fund.

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Western Center on Law and Poverty and Impact Fund Secure Momentous Win for Over 40 Million SNAP Recipients

California - Millions of Americans with low incomes will now receive their food benefits without delay during the first month of a potential federal government shutdown, thanks to the government’s response to a nationwide class action brought by Western Center on Law and Poverty and Impact Fund. The USDA has committed to changing its accounting practice to now guarantee that over 40 million people will receive their SNAP benefits in October, beginning this year and continuing every year moving forward - regardless of a government shutdown. Previously, in the face of a government shutdown, benefits were only guaranteed through September, the end of the federal government’s fiscal year. This meant that each year people were unsure if they would receive life saving and hunger averting benefits unless Congress passed a budget. SNAP recipients, represented by Western Center on Law and Poverty and the Impact Fund, filed suit in federal court in San Francisco on September 12, 2023, against the heads of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The suit, Erdmann-Browning v. Vilsack, seeks to prevent any delays in providing SNAP (formerly food stamps) benefits if the government shuts down. Congress has still not passed a series of appropriations bills or a continuing resolution funding the government ahead of the September 30th deadline.

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Class Action Lawsuit: Over 40 Million Americans at Risk of Hunger if Federal Government Fails to Act

California – Western Center on Law and Poverty and Impact Fund have filed a class action lawsuit against the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prevent a delay in providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to over 40 million Americans.  Congress must pass either appropriation bills or a “continuing resolution” to temporarily continue federal funding by September 30th, or else the federal government will shut down.  The lawsuit asserts that the USDA should exercise available strategies to order the continuation of the SNAP benefits, while Congress works on passage of the funding bills.  SNAP serves low-wage working families, low-income seniors, and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, providing benefits only to those whose net income is below the federal poverty level. The most recent USDA demographic data shows that 65% percent of SNAP participant households live in families with children, with 11 percent of the families receiving need-based cash aid; 36% are in households with members who are seniors or are disabled; and 41% are in households with low-wage. 

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, By Community Power Collective, East LA Community Corporation, Inclusive Action for the City, Public Counsel, and Western Center on Law & Poverty

Trial Date Set For Street Vendors’ Lawsuit to End City of L.A.’s “Unlawful & Discriminatory” No-Vending Zones

TRIAL DATE SET FOR STREET VENDORS’ LAWSUIT TO END CITY OF L.A.’S “UNLAWFUL & DISCRIMINATORY” NO-VENDING ZONES The vendors’ lawyers and three community empowerment organizations issued a statement after the…

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, By Career Engine

Santa Clara Valley Healthcare病人可寻求医疗费用减免

此前，圣塔克拉拉谷医疗保健公司（Santa Clara Valley Healthcare）被指控向贫困患者收取本应免费获得的医疗费用的违规操作。该县昨天表示，已开始通知本应有资格享受 “慈善护理”（charity care，为低收入人群提供的减费或免费医疗服务）的病人。那些在未来几周内提出申请的人，其未付的医院账单将作废，或收到邮寄的退款支票。 对于参与此案的西部法律与贫困中心（Western Center on Law and Poverty）资深律师海伦-陈（Helen Tran）等病人权益倡导者来说，此次和解是一次重大胜利。 她说：”这向全州的医院发出了一个非常重要的信息–他们应该认真履行慈善医疗义务。” 加州的所有急症护理医院都必须为收入低于一定标准（目前为联邦贫困线的 400%）的无保险者和部分有保险者提供慈善护理。即个人年收入约为 58000 元，四口之家年收入约为 120000 元，均符合要求。此外，还必须用患者的母语向他们介绍慈善医疗的选择。 Read More

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