2024-11-06T16:48:51-06:00 2023-12-31 954557617 Harrington Group CPAs LLP 2698 Mataro Street Pasadena CA 91107 990 2023-01-01 951684067 Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles LEGA 3238017916 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 Vincent Rodriguez CFO 3238017916 2024-11-06 1 1 Oswaldo D Torres CPA P02465082 6264036801 2023 2024-10-15 13:58:12Z Silvia Argueta 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 57686123 0 X WWW.LAFLA.ORG X 1929 CA Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) seeks to achieve equal justice for low-income people. 34 34 294 1014 0 0 34911949 54705482 546511 494010 441204 408534 1671419 1846832 37571083 57454858 10677723 23416062 0 0 20757016 23515668 0 0 106350 5919283 5868047 37354022 52799777 217061 4655081 50233932 57986384 13527334 14123639 36706598 43862745 X See Schedule O 0 0 32894117 23275070 494010 Santa Monica Community Office: Funded through grants from the City of Santa Monica; Provides legal services to residents of Santa Monica only; Offers domestic violence clinic and Self-Help Legal Access Center; Attorneys work with local agencies and city services to provide family law, housing, veterans benefit and immigration services. This office closed 1,054 cases in 2023.Restoring Communities: Addresses the core legal needs of communities impacted by the criminal justice system by providing direct legal services to remove barriers to reentry to society, providing community education, working with community partners to offer holistic services, and engaging in systemic change to support the restoration of impacted communities. In 2023, LAFLA closed 1,991 cases in these areas of law.Veterans Justice Center: Obtains life-sustaining income, health, and housing benefits so veterans can thrive; Prevents veteran homelessness by fighting wrongful evictions; Removes barriers to employment to promote veteran self-sufficiency; Advocates to upgrade unjust less-than-honorable military discharges; Works with hundreds of pro bono legal volunteers annually to hold large-scale legal clinics for homeless veterans. This program closed 413 cases in 2023. Asian & Pacific Islander Community Outreach Project: Provides legal help in all areas of practice including family law, immigration, housing, and government benefits in a wide range of API languages, including Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Khmer, Vietnamese, Tagalog/Filipino, and Thai; Advocates for language rights in civil courts, administrative proceedings, and other government agencies for clients with limited-English proficiency. This program closed 798 cases in 2023.Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) In 2023, LAFLA expanded its Medical-Legal Partnership (MLP) program with the launch of a new Black Health Initiative focused MLP at the Inglewood Planned Parenthood of Los Angeles (PPLA). This is the first and only MLP located at a PPLA in the country. The newest legal clinic complements LAFLA's other MLPs including the Asian Pacific Islander MLP at Community Medical Wellness Centers USA and TCC Family Health as well as the three Los Angeles County of Health Services (DHS) Medical-Legal Community Partnership (MLCP-LA) locations: Martin Luther King, Jr. Outpatient Center, Long beach Coastal Health Centers, and Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center. Through this project, anyone from a medical care team can refer patients to our attorneys as part of a comprehensive approach to improve health outcomes by addressing social determinants of health such as poor housing conditions, loss of denial of public benefits, immigration status, problems at work, or violence within the household. In 2023, MLP closed 1132 cases. Unhoused People's Justice Project: This new project engages in impact litigation and policy work to combat the criminalization of homelessness, and to ensure the civil rights of unhoused people is protected. Legal Victories, LAFLA achieved the following legal victories in 2023:Source of Income Discrimination- City of Los Angeles: Plaintiff was denied available housing opportunities by 22 providers of rental housing in the City of Los Angeles. In all instances the denial was based on his receipt of Section 8 rental assistance. These denials constitute source of income discrimination in violation of FEHA, the Unruh Civil Rights Act and the Los Angeles Municipal Code. The purpose of this litigation is to obtain declaratory relief, injunctive relief, damages, and attorney's fees through enforcement of the source of income discrimination protections in FEHA and the LAMC. We seek to bring attention to the state and local SOI discrimination protections which are important tools in expanding housing opportunity because permissible discrimination against voucher holders is often a proxy for impermissible discrimination against the racial minorities who disproportionately make up the population using housing subsidies. 17 defendants have settled, agreeing to no longer to engage in source of income discrimination.Source of Income Discrimination- City of Santa Monica: The primary goal of this case is to preserve the Section 8 voucher and tenancy of plaintiff, and ensure non-discriminatory behavior from the landlord going forward. In this case a Santa Monica rent-controlled landlord refused to accept the Section 8 voucher of an elderly tenant, in violation of the Santa Monica source of income discrimination ordinance and the Tenant Harassment ordinance. Plaintiff is a long-term rent-controlled tenant of 38 years who is heavily rent-burdened and may lose her home and/or voucher. Accordingly, in 2020, Plaintiff brought the following causes of action: (1) Violation of the California Fair Employment & Housing Act; (2) Violation of the California Unruh Civil Rights Act; (3) Violation of the Santa Monica Anti-Discrimination Law (SMMC 4.28.030); (4) Violation of the Santa Monica Tenant Harassment Ordinance (SMMC 4.56.020); (5) Elder Abuse; and (6) Unfair Business Practices.During the reporting year, in 2023, LAFLA and co-counsel prevailed on claims 1, 3, and 6 in a Motion for Summary Adjudication and had a permanent injunction put in place to force Defendant to take Plaintiff's voucher, as well as vouchers from any other tenant Defendant either rents to, or seeks to rent from her.Civil Rights for Unhoused People: The litigation centers on the civil rights of unhoused individuals who are living in tents and makeshift encampments in the City of Los Angeles. The litigation challenges the seizure and destruction of unhoused individuals' belongings. The case challenges the constitutionality of an ordinance in Los Angeles that allows the City to seize and destroy unhoused residents' belongings. Plaintiffs allege that the ordinance violates the Fourth and Fourteenth amendment. They seek declarative relief that the ordinance is unconstitutional, and injunctive relief to prevent the seizure and destruction of property. In 2023 LAFLA and co-counsel defeated motions that challenged the standing of the organizational plaintiff as well as motions to dismiss the claims of that plaintiff. There was also a lengthy forensic examination of defendant's evidence in preparation for a spoilation motion.Medi-Cal Manual Revision to Improve Access to Power Wheelchairs other Durable Medical Equipment for Disabled Seniors - In collaboration with Disability Rights California, LAFLA spearheaded negotiations with the California Department of Health Care Services to revise portions of the Medi-Cal Provider Manual to correct language that Managed Care Organizations were exploiting to deny critical wheelchair and durable medical equipment to disabled seniors. The language at issue had been creatively interpreted by these insurance companies to empower them to deny authorizations for complex medical equipment for disabled seniors who had both Medicare and Medi-Cal coverage based merely on the order in which Medicare and Medi-Cal were asked to approve the request. This interpretation made it nearly impossible for dually eligible, disabled seniors to get critical mobility equipment approved without either undertaking a lengthy appeal process and asserting technical legal arguments. After successfully appealing one such denial for a severely disabled senior, LAFLA worked with DRC to escalate this policy issue with DHCS leadership, securing a key clarification to Medi-Cal rules that unequivocally prevented insurance companies from engaging in this practice. 8919486 107128 Housing and Communities and Eviction Defense Workgroup: The Housing & Communities workgroup takes a community lawyering approach to litigation and policy advocacy by supporting tenants and tenant organizations to enforce and enact housing laws. They also defend residents of public housing and Section 8 voucher holders against losing their housing or housing subsidy. It also provides legal support to community-based organizations seeking to build healthy, economically vibrant communities. The Eviction Defense Workgroup provides direct representation to low-income individuals and families facing eviction; negotiates with landlords to ensure families can stay in their homes; helps clients living in uninhabitable conditions to get reductions in rent; and empowers tenants to advocate for their tenants' rights, all while working towards a tenants' right to counsel. LAFLA closed 5,213 cases in this area of law in 2023. 2457289 18521 Survivor and Family Justice: Helps survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault get restraining orders, divorces, child custody, visitation and support; Secures the return of concealed and abducted children. In 2023, the Survivor and Family Justice Workgroup launched its shelter-based clinic program, delivering on-site family law legal services to survivors staying at domestic violence shelters. The Workgroup also piloted virtual family law clinics for survivors seeking assistance with motion and brief drafting. By the end of 2023, the Workgroup was hosting 5+ drafting clinics a week. Finally, the courthouse-based domestic violence clinic in downtown LA moved to a new, private space in the courthouse itself, allowing the team to provide survivors with a safer, more confidential space to receive legal assistance. In 2023, the Workgroup closed 605 domestic violence cases. Immigration Access: Supports torture victims seeking asylum in the United States with the immigration process; Represents survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, sexual assaults and other serious crimes to obtain protection and permanent residency; Protects vulnerable unaccompanied children throughout the immigration process. In 2023, LAFLA opened 333 new U Visa cases and 65 new Violence Against Womens Act (VAWA) cases. Of these, the majority were for survivors of domestic violence. In addition, LAFLA continued to work on 652 U Visa and 128 VAWA cases throughout the year. Of these, 73% were survivors of domestic violence/sextual assault. In 2023, LAFLA closed 1,430 cases dealing with these legal issues. 2350692 15343 Economic Stability: Assists vulnerable populations in obtaining and maintaining critical safety net benefits that helps them get food, housing, and medical care or services; Fights wage theft, wrongful terminations and discriminatory employment practices; Discharges student loans based on disability or school fraud. In fact, LAFLA is the only legal services organization in the country that, for over 30 years, has consistently sought justice for low-income student loan borrowers and worked to change a higher education system that increasingly ignores the needs and experiences of low-income borrowers. In 2023, LAFLA 1,563 closed cases in these areas of law. 2350692 15343 46621584 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 63 0 1 294 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 X 34 34 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 CA X X Vincent Rodriguez Chief Financial Officer 3238017916 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 Amy Lerner-Hill President 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Kahn A Scolnick Vice President 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Brianne Wiese Secretary 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Lynette M Jones Treasurer 1.00 X X 0 0 0 Karen J Adelseck Client Chair (End 06/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 C Cleo Ray Client Chair 1.00 X 0 0 0 Eric J Bakewell Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Wendy R Cabil Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kyle Casazza Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Sean A Commons Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Carissa Coze Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Joseph B Farrell Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Marc Feinstein Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Debra L Fischer Esq Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Gary E Gans Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Felix Garcia Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Naomi Haywood Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Silvia Hernandez Board Member (End 06/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 James E Hornstein Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kimberly Klinsport Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Bethany Kristovich Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Clementina Lopez Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Michael Maddigan Board Member 1.00 1.00 X 0 0 0 John Maldonado Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Matthew Marmolejo Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Louise Mbella Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Virginia F Milstead Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kevin J Minnick Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Fanny Ortiz Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Adam S Paris Board Member (End 06/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Chris Rivas Board Member (Start 02/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 David Lewis Sagal Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Kareen Sandoval Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Marc M Seltzer Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Linus Shentu Board Member (End 06/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Jeff A Taylor Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Ronald B Turovsky Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Pamela Westhoff Board Member 1.00 X 0 0 0 Lait Yamini Board Member (End 09/23) 1.00 X 0 0 0 Silvia Argueta Executive Director 35.00 X 254421 0 43058 Vincent A Rodriguez Chief Financial Officer 35.00 X 203541 0 9506 Barbara Schultz Director of Housing Justice 35.00 X 220874 0 57153 Ronnette Arnold Managing Attorney 35.00 X 171801 0 57467 Yolanda Arias Managing Attorney 35.00 X 170436 0 20327 Phong Wong Pro Bono Director 35.00 X 167775 0 52902 Michael Polanichka Director of IT 35.00 X 167379 0 43526 Linda Quintana Director of Fiscal Management 35.00 X 161852 0 33910 1518079 0 317849 37 0 1 0 Allied International Security Inc 3333 Wilshire Blvd Suite 900 Los Angeles CA 90010 Building Security 895102 Diane Prado Consulting PC 21802 Hermosa Lane Trabuco Canyon CA 92679 Eviction Defense Training 138000 2 501147 300000 48189473 5714862 12858 54705482 Attorney fees 541100 353605 353605 Fellowship 541100 140405 140405 494010 408534 408534 231265 501147 231265 0 CY Pres 541100 1779778 1779778 Miscellaneous income 900099 67054 67054 1846832 57454858 494010 0 2255366 23177842 23177842 238220 238220 788553 278027 451030 59496 17675240 15238604 2413828 22808 739330 645219 93582 529 2988146 2512640 469080 6426 1324399 1126084 191645 6670 34909 24597 10312 71900 71900 687625 686800 825 5208 5208 891819 492351 398522 946 315267 187762 125651 1854 1983636 1639959 340531 3146 38697 29595 8963 139 41722 41722 206884 206884 311888 202515 108898 475 Litigation 371518 371511 7 Training 257005 99982 155232 1791 Miscellaneous 223093 17068 206015 10 Library 221178 217101 4059 18 205698 122507 81981 1210 52799777 46621584 6071843 106350 6552653 5385972 493237 2925108 8650271 13603876 90332 74541 13262600 0 169858 1138725 22222229 2442553 4160879 19779676 15743116 13806639 1110986 1271847 50233932 57986384 7815114 9934231 3379527 2850773 3702 282 1200000 0 1128991 1338353 13527334 14123639 X 34052321 41136695 2654277 2726050 36706598 43862745 50233932 57986384 X 4655081 407821 2093245 X 0 1 X 1 1 1 X 16739306 19813839 32627974 34911949 54705482 158798550 16739306 19813839 32627974 34911949 54705482 158798550 158798550 198059 197083 367639 441204 408534 1612519 13247 14993136 359740 1671419 1846832 18884374 179295443 1830548 0.88570 0.86710 X RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED RESTRICTED 0 1 X 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 8657 1.00000 0 0 5331759 5331759 15813223 1993212 13820011 8175 8175 0 537989 441166 96823 531083 531083 19779676 Lease liabilities - operating leases 726025 Lease liabilities - finance leases 612328 1338353 X 71539388 407821 13676709 14084530 57454858 0 57454858 66476486 13676709 13676709 52799777 0 52799777 Part IV, Line 2b: LAFLA holds funds in trust for its clients relating to settlements awarded by the courts and deposits held for filing and other fees. Part V, Line 4: Endowment funds are appropriated by the Board for use in current operations. Part X, Line 2: LAFLA is exempt from taxation under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) and California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 23701d. Generally accepted accounting principles provide accounting and disclosure guidance about positions taken by an organization in its tax returns that might be uncertain. Management has considered its tax positions and believes that all positions taken by LAFLA in its federal and state exempt organization tax returns are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination. LAFLA's returns are subject to examination by federal and state taxing authorities, generally for three and four years, respectively, after they filed. Annual Fund Dinner 732412 501147 231265 26639 108430 7050 89146 732412 501147 231265 26639 108430 7050 89146 231265 0 1 Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California 1145 Wilshire Blvd 2nd Floor Los Angeles CA 90017 953854152 501(c)(3) 47711 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Basta Universal 1545 Wilshire Blvd 600 Los Angeles CA 90017 421688855 501(c)(3) 2351015 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Bet Tzedek 3250 Wilshire Blvd 13th Floor Los Angeles CA 90010 237304205 501(c)(3) 471824 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Community Legal Aid SoCal 2101 N Tustin Ave Santa Ana CA 92705 951994337 501(c)(3) 552571 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Eviction Defense Network 316 W 2nd Street 8th Floor Los Angeles CA 90012 562380231 501(c)(3) 1091396 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Housing Rights Center 3255 Wilshire Blvd Suite 1150 Los Angeles CA 90010 952572642 501(c)(3) 3971212 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Inner City Law Center 1309 E 7th St Los Angeles CA 90021 953697572 501(c)(3) 1298189 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Liberty Hill Foundation 1001 Wilshire Blvd PMB 2170 Los Angeles CA 90017 510181191 501(c)(3) 2768430 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Los Angeles Community Action Network 849 E 6th St Los Angeles CA 90021 020661629 501(c)(3) 32500 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Mental Health Advocacy Services 3255 Wilshire Blvd Unit 902 Los Angeles CA 90010 953371166 501(c)(3) 197658 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Neighborhood Legal Services 13327 Van Nuys Blvd Pacoima CA 91331 952408642 501(c)(3) 851740 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Public Counsel 610 S Ardmore Ave Los Angeles CA 90005 237105149 501(c)(3) 308406 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants Strategic Actions for a Just Economy 152 W 32nd St Los Angeles CA 90007 931226092 501(c)(3) 32500 0 Client legal assistance through sub-grants 13 0 Stipends 47 238220 Part I, Line 2: Student will first submit an application to participate. Criteria considered include: demonstrated commitment to racial equity and inclusivity, financial need, demonstrated leadership ability, community service, personal and academic achievements. After a pool of candidates is selected from applications reviewed, they proceed to an interview process. Interviews are conducted by LAFLA's Director of Racial Justice and Equity and LAFLA's Pro Bono Manager. Additional information can be found here: https://lafla.org/get-involved/law-students/ X X 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Silvia Argueta Executive Director 254421 0 0 0 0 0 28399 0 14659 0 297479 0 0 0 Barbara Schultz Director of Housing Justice 220874 0 0 0 0 0 24729 0 32424 0 278027 0 0 0 Ronnette Arnold Managing Attorney 171801 0 0 0 0 0 15900 0 41567 0 229268 0 0 0 Phong Wong Pro Bono Director 167775 0 0 0 0 0 11980 0 40922 0 220677 0 0 0 Vincent A Rodriguez Chief Financial Officer 203541 0 0 0 0 0 7697 0 1809 0 213047 0 0 0 Michael Polanichka Director of IT 167379 0 0 0 0 0 6315 0 37211 0 210905 0 0 0 Linda Quintana Director of Fiscal Management 161852 0 0 0 0 0 18178 0 15732 0 195762 0 0 0 Yolanda Arias Managing Attorney 170436 0 0 0 0 0 18778 0 1549 0 190763 0 0 0 Form 990, Part III, Line 1, Description of Organization Mission: LAFLA is a nonprofit law firm that protects and advances the rights of the most underserved - leveling the playing field and ensuring that everyone can have access to the justice system. Form 990, Part III, Line 4a Employment Benefits Help Disabled Worker - LAFLA's client was working as a muralist when he unexpectedly fainted from an episode of diabetic shock while on the job. After informing his employer of the incident and taking some time to treat the newly diagnosed medical condition that caused it, his employer promptly fired him because of the condition. After receiving treatment to manage his diabetes, Client applied for unemployment insurance. He was wrongfully denied unemployment benefits due to his former employer claiming that he had quit his job without good cause. Without an income, Client fell into homelessness. Client appealed his notice of determination ("NOD"). However, preparing for the appeal hearing may have been difficult for him to do alone given the "brain fog" he experiences as a symptom of his medical condition - a disadvantage made worse by his lack of stable housing. LAFLA advised Client on his chances of appealing the NOD before an administrative law judge ("ALJ") with the California Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board ("CUIAB"). To prepare for his hearing, LAFLA staff helped Client to organize and submit his evidence. They created a timeline of events related to his case, provided practical information on the logistics of the hearing process, and helped Client practice answering questions that the ALJ was likely to ask. Additionally, LAFLA provided advice to Client regarding his potential disability discrimination claim under the California Fair Employment and Housing Act ("FEHA"). Client prevailed at his appeal hearing; EDD's determination that he quit his last job without good cause was reversed. Accordingly, he will now be retroactively awarded benefits to which he is rightfully eligible. Client may receive up to $450 in weekly benefits, totaling $11,700. This award will greatly help Client in securing permanent housing and regaining economic stability. Form 990, Part VI, Section A, line 7a Pursuant to Legal Services Corporation regulations, most directors are appointed by bar associations or community organizations. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 11b The Form 990 is prepared by an outside accounting firm based on information provided by the Chief Financial Officer; it is then reviewed by the Executive Director, the CFO and the Audit Committee. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 12c At least annually, the Board of Directors, Officers and staff of LAFLA are required to review LAFLA's Conflict of Interest Policy and complete an annual statement affirming that they have a) received a copy of the Conflict of Interest Policy, b) read and understood the policy, and c) agree to comply with such policy. Form 990, Part VI, Section B, line 15 The Executive Committee of the Board reviews the compensation of the Executive Director annually. A compensation survey is also conducted of similar organizations. Other organization officers or key employees' compensation is determined by comparability data and a compensation study as well as review by the Board of Directors. Form 990, Part VI, Section C, line 19 The organization makes the Form 990 available on Guidestar.org and also makes governing documents, conflicts of interest policies and financial statements available to the public upon request. Form 990, Part XI, line 9: Transfer of Ron Olson Justice Center and New Market Tax Credits 2,093,245. Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc 1550 West 8th Street Los Angeles CA 90017 475286319 Support the activities of the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles. CA 501(c)(3) Line 12c, III-FI Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc C 300000 Actual amount Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc K 384341 Actual amount Los Angeles Legal Aid Justice Center Inc S 15458614 FMV