Organization Description

The Homeless Action Center (HAC) is a non-profit legal services agency serving low-income residents of Alameda County with offices in Berkeley and Oakland. HAC provides free legal representation and assistance with a range of public benefits programs, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Medi-Cal, CalWorks, General Assistance (GA), Food Stamps, and Cash Assistance Programs for Immigrants (CAPI). We also provide informal advice and referrals for non-benefits related legal issues.

Pro Bono Project Description:

Disability Benefits Advocate/Attorney
Volunteers will work directly with homeless, mentally-disabled clients, providing representation in claims for Social Security disability benefits. Volunteers can be assigned clients who have claims at the initial and appellate levels, up through federal district court. Volunteers will be responsible for interviewing clients, obtaining and analyzing medical and other evidence, developing legal arguments, writing persuasive letters, corresponding with clients' physicians and Social Security, coordinating medical appointments, drafting briefs and other legal documents, and representing clients at Administrative Law Judge hearings involving direct and cross examinations.

Mary Gilg, Supervising Attorney, mgilg@homelessactioncenter.org, (510) 540-0878 ext 306