Information provided Senior Legal Services of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
Senior Legal Services (SLS) is calling on the California Department of Aging (CDA) to adopt Option A for statewide funding requirements, which mandates a 2% minimum allocation for legal services.
While the state explores three paths to federal compliance, SLS warns that the alternatives—Options B and C—slash legal funding minimums to a mere 1%. This comes as Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties face the fastest-growing senior populations in California, with the 65–84 demographic in Santa Cruz jumping 80.9% since 2010.
The Crisis by the Numbers
Funding Gap: Adjusted for inflation, CDA funding to SLS is just 32 cents for every dollar compared to 40 years ago.
Legal Inequity: Roughly 81% of landlords have attorneys, while only 3% of tenants are represented.
Waitlist Danger: Stagnant funding has contributed to a six-week waitlist for legal services.
“For a senior with an eviction notice on their door, six weeks is too late,” says Rebecca Steckler, SLS Executive Director. “Option A is the only responsible choice. It provides the baseline necessary to keep our most vulnerable neighbors from falling into homelessness.”
SLS argues that a 1% minimum validates a “crisis-only” model. Only Option A provides the resources needed to move toward a preventative model that secures “soft landings” for seniors living on as little as $1,400 per month.
About Senior Legal Services
Senior Legal Services provides free legal assistance to elderly residents of Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties, focusing on housing security, elder abuse prevention, and access benefits, and planning for the future.