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State v. Fox - A Look Back

CLS inherits a rich legacy of farmworker justice in our state: State v. Fox was a pivotal case that established the right of advocates to enter rural labor camps to support and educate farmworkers in their struggle for dignity and opportunity. More

Sandra Saucedo
Farmworkers Win Against Gunslinging Foreman

Sandra Saucedo lost her job for calling the police when her supervisor started firing his gun to intimidate workers. Learn how she and other farmworkers courageously stood up for their rights. More

Homeless Student with Backpack
Student Homelessness Rising

More than 30,000 students are homeless in Washington State. That’s approximately 1 in 34 students, according to an analysis by the Children and Youth Project. Student homelessness is on the rise, with no corner of Washington left untouched. More

Modern Day Debtors' Prisons

Washington courts are locking up people for being poor. A report by CLS and the ACLU of Washington describes how the burden of court-mandated fines and fees leads to poverty, and frequently, jail time. More

Ensuring Access to Healthcare for Low-Income Immigrants

Washington hospitals were improperly denying immigrants access to "charity care," a crucial safety net for the working poor. Our advocacy reversed discriminatory billing practices and empowered immigrant families to escape crushing medical debts. More

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• • • Welcome to Columbia Legal Services • • •

ADVOCACY HIGHLIGHT

Foreclosure Working Group: Foreclosure rates soared in the wake of the financial crisis of 2008, affecting countless Washington residents. The Foreclosure Working Group advocates for policy reforms and employs litigation to help families keep their homes. More

OUR IMPACT

2007-2013: The Institutions Project represented women who were sexually assaulted by corrections officers while serving time in state prisons. Their lawsuit against the Department of Corrections resulted in sweeping reforms and enhanced safety for female prisoners throughout the state. More

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