THE ISSUE
EXPOSING THE PROBLEM
If you are charged with a crime in the United States, you have a right to legal representation. But, if you are scammed out of your life savings or are a victim of unscrupulous medical debt collection, you are on your own.
Millions of low-income Washingtonians face legal problems that impact their daily life.
In case after case, people represent themselves in landlord-tenant lawsuits, foreclosures, and medical debt. The outcome is often devastating.
The gap between the number of civil legal problems and the resources available to meet those needs is known as the "justice gap."
It leaves 80% of low-income households to go it alone in cases related to housing, medical debt, student loans, auto fraud and consumer scams.
Without legal help these problems can quickly spiral into losing your home, job, children and even your life.
The Debt Collection Industry
#0
complaint to the Federal Trade Commission$0B
billion dollar industry0
debt collectors nationwide0B
billion consumer contacts each yearBuying a Car
$0
billion paid each year by consumers who finance at the dealershipMillions
of car buyers are estimated to be defrauded each year
0
car buyers of color were charged higher interest rates in one studyDealerships
make much of their profits by marking up interest rates
Healthcare
#0
cause of bankruptcy#0
income source for debt collectors0%
of debt collection lawsuits involve medical debt0
Americans with medical debtThe Student Loan Crisis
$0
trillion in student loan debt0%
of students graduate with significant debt0x
the rate of white borrowers0x
as likely to defaultSupport Our Work
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