Los Angeles city and county leaders launched a legal services program Thursday to help unhoused people resolve legal issues that may limit their access to housing and social services.
The Community Outreach Court, the first of its kind in the city, aims to streamline the criminal court process for homeless people and those at risk of homelessness. It offers numerous legal assistance services, such as resolving outstanding fines, fees and misdemeanors, expunging convictions and clearing court orders, while connecting participants to other much-needed services and employment opportunities.
The community outreach court, established six months ago as a pilot program, has helped about 190 people, including those at risk of losing their homes, officials said. The official launch marks the end of the beta state of the software.
“When unhoused individuals are summoned to court, they are often reluctant to come to court sometimes because they do not have a place to store their belongings or for fear of losing them,” LA City Atty said. Heidi Feldstein Soto, whose office leads the program. “This is our effort to bring our courts directly to the community to help solve these challenges.”
The Community Outreach Court is a collaborative effort involving the Los Angeles County Superior Court, the Los Angeles Sheriff's Office, the County Public Defender's Office, and the Office of the Alternative County Public Defender.
