What it does
To provide access to justice for low income and historically marginalized individuals through 1) providing free legal services to those persons who by reason of poverty and unable to effectively access the legal system, 2) promoting, and facilitating the provision of pro bono legal services, and 3) providing community education and instruction on legal issues affecting low income and marginalized communities.
Housing Justice & Eviction Defense Program - Skagit Legal Aid provides eviction defense and tenant advocacy services across Skagit, San Juan, and Island Counties and serves as conflict counsel in Whatcom County. In 2025, we closed 195 court appointed cases for tenants, nearly all involving full representation, negotiated settlements, and court advocacy to prevent displacement.In partnership with the Skagit County Public Health Department, we paired legal representation with $612,782 in emergency rental assistance for 94 households, preventing homelessness and stabilizing families at immediate risk.We also operated community-based housing clinics in Burlington, Everson, San Juan Island, Lopez Island, and East County, providing early intervention services that helped tenants resolve disputes, access rental assistance, and avoid formal eviction filings. Our work prioritizes farmworkers, undocumented tenants, and individuals in nontraditional housing such as motels, RVs, and employer-provided units.
Immigration & Identification Support - Skagit Legal Aid provides direct immigration representation, community education, and identification assistance for immigrants across northwest Washington, prioritizing Indigenous and limited English proficient communities.In 2025, we closed 197 immigration cases, nearly half involving high-level representation, including asylum applications, U visa petitions, naturalization, employment authorization, and Special Immigrant Juvenile-related state court predicate orders and federal filings.We conducted dozens of Know Your Rights events, reaching more than 6,500 community members with information on immigration enforcement, Fourth Amendment protections, and family safety planning. We assisted hundreds of noncitizen parents in preparing parental and financial powers of attorney to protect children in case of detention or deportation.Through partnership with El Consulado de Mxico en Seattle, more than 70 Indigenous families obtained critical identification documents.
Post-Conviction & Debt Relief Program - Skagit Legal Aid provides post-conviction relief, driver's license reinstatement, and consumer debt advocacy services to remove legal and financial barriers to stability.In 2025, we vacated at least 40 convictions and secured more than $106,000 in waived or reduced legal financial obligations and traffic penalties across 92 cases. Our biweekly Debt Clinic at Skagit District Court provided medical debt negotiation, consumer defense, and judgment relief services. We expanded capacity to offer Chapter 7 bankruptcy assistance for clients facing tenant debt and licensing-related financial barriers.These services directly improved employment access, lawful driving, housing stability, and family security for justice-impacted and low-income individuals.