The National Center for Law and Economic Justice (formerly the Welfare Law Center) was founded in 1965, in the heyday of the civil rights movement. From the very start, the Center joined with southern civil rights lawyers in landmark cases, worked with community-based organizations around the country, won ground breaking victories in the courts and committed resources to bring about legislative reform. Through these early successes, the Center demonstrated that the law can be a powerful instrument for improving the lives of the most disadvantaged members of our society.

For the past 43 years, the Center has led the way nationally in promoting economic justice, fairness and opportunity for those in need; securing systemic reform in the delivery of income support and related human services; and safe-guarding important legal and constitutional rights. We have done so in the face of a constantly changing legal, social and political environment, marked by a significant shift in authority over social programs from the federal government to the state and local level, and increased privatization of benefits and services.

Among the many challenges confronting us today is the sad reality that in this, the richest industrialized country in the world, tens of millions of families and individuals still live far below the poverty line. And millions of others can barely make ends meet.

For example, there are now so many hurdles in the basic cash assistance program that many desperately needy families fall through the cracks. Over 40% of those eligible for food stamps do not receive them, all too often because agencies (intentionally or inadvertently) discourage applications, arbitrarily terminate aid, move far too slowly on applications or appeals, and the like. Budget shortfalls have led many states to impose severe cutbacks, particularly in health care benefits for the poor.

The Center uses a coordinated strategy of impact litigation, policy analysis and advocacy, and support for low-income grass-roots groups to: uphold the right to fair treatment; protect the civil rights of low-income people; and support community empowerment.

Specifically we work to:

• Secure major reforms in the administration of a broad array of programs that promote economic security (including cash assistance, food stamp, Medicaid and child care subsidy programs);
• Eliminate unlawful patterns and practices that deny aid to eligible persons;
• Promote policies that address barriers to employment;
• Make sure that Federal and State sexual and discrimination laws apply unequivocally to the poor;
• Ensure compliance with laws protecting persons with disabilities;
• Secure access to benefits for families with Limited English Proficiency; and
• Deliver technology assistance to community groups and coalitions across the country.

Our staff of award-winning lawyers has many years of experience. The Center's efforts have won admiration locally, nationally, and in developing nations in Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia.

The Center multiplies the impact of its staff by bringing in other resources. We recruit major law firms to act as pro bono co-counsel. We ask civil rights, civil liberties, women's rights, disability rights, and immigrants' rights organizations, and other legal advocacy organizations, to co-counsel with us.

We are a leader in working collaboratively outside of litigation, both through formal (and funded) and informal collaborative arrangements. We also excel at forging new partnerships by educating other advocates about emerging issues and advocacy strategies, presenting at conferences, disseminating publications widely, and expanding the use of our national listservs and websites.