» COVID-19 and Civil Legal Aid - Legal Foundation of Washington

In 2020, LFW proudly partnered with immigrant-led community organizations, the Governor’s office, and the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services to establish the Washington COVID-19 Immigrant Relief Fund. Applications are now closed. Learn more about the fund here.

As the COVID-19 pandemic creates many new legal challenges for low-income people across the state, the Legal Foundation of Washington remains committed to providing stable, reliable funding and support for our grantees as they respond quickly to meet the needs of clients while keeping staff and volunteers safe.

Legal aid is a vital component of our state’s front-line COVID-19 response, and programs have adapted to provide urgent services and advocacy. Skyrocketing unemployment needs and denials of benefits, housing insecurity, disputes over medical and consumer debt, and many other conflicts caused by the pandemic can only be resolved through the civil justice system.

And many of those most harmed by systemic injustice, including communities of color, immigrants, and incarcerated people, are also most at-risk to the health and economic impacts of the virus.

Watch our Virtual Town Hall with legal leaders on how COVID-19 has impacted access to justice.

How You Can Help

Our grantees prove every day that civil legal aid is a lifeline in a time of crisis. As Washington responds to and recovers from this crisis, our mission remains essential: ensuring that poverty and race are not barriers to justice.

Please donate to fund legal aid for our most vulnerable neighbors:

Donate

Attorneys can also assist legal aid providers by volunteering your time:

Learn more about pro bono opportunities through the Washington State Bar Association.

Resources

For information about receiving legal help:

Read the COVID-19 resource guide from the Northwest Justice Project, Office of Civil Legal Aid, and Equal Justice Coalition.

The guide is also available in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese.

For people without immigration status:

Columbia Legal Services offers a fact sheet on access to health care, employment, housing, and other public benefits in English and Spanish.

For providers:

Read the memo to grantees from LFW Board & Staff.