The need for legal services
Eastside Legal Assistance Program (ELAP) provides services that meet the basic needs of low-income residents of East and Northeast King County by providing access to justice.
Washington State Civil Legal Needs Study
In 2003, this study found that 87% of Washington’s low income residents experience at least one serious civil legal problem each year—approximately one million legal issues annually. Of these, only 12% receive some kind of legal assistance. The study also found that the need for civil legal help for low income families is often three times that of other residents. Those legal needs more often are for basic needs such as housing, safety (including domestic violence) and employment, than those of other residents.
Solving legal issues early, often lessens the burden on other social services. For example, keeping a tenant from an unfair eviction can prevent homelessness. The majority of low income families, (79%) with a legal issue, do not seek assistance; often unaware that there may be laws to protect them or that they could obtain help. (2003 Washington State Civil Legal Needs Study)
Approximately 22% of workers living in King County do not earn a livable wage for themselves or their families. In East King County, 10.9% lived in households without a living wage income.
Further, one-fourth of all low-income wage earners are immigrants or refugees. Between 1990 and 2000 the rate of growth in King County of the foreign born population was 90.8%. For native born it was 7.5%. (2000 US Census Report).
Additionally, it is predicted that the county population over 60 will increase by 39% by the year 2015. It is well known that after retirement, income typically declines because of fixed income levels and increases in cost of living.
In 2006, 48.5% of all assaults reported in the State of Washington were the result of domestic violence.