Homelessness Service Project

HSP (Homelessness Service Project) SLP Logo The Homelessness Service Project (HSP) provides legal assistance to unhoused and low-income communities in the Bay Area. HSP is not limited to issues of homelessness, but covers any type of legal issues that people experiencing homelessness and low-income communities encounter.

Students will have the opportunity to work closely with staff from the Homeless Action Center (HAC), The Suitcase Clinic, and the Coalition on Homelessness (COH). Our projects include:

  • The Suitcase and Women’s Clinic: We provide legal counseling and referral services to individuals who seek healthcare and housing services. 
  • Administrative Claims Clinic: Members will assist individuals experiencing homelessness with their administrative claims against the city and county of San Francisco for wrongfully seizing or confiscating their property. 
  • Shadowing and Outreach: Members may shadow our supervising attorneys at the Homeless Action Center and perform direct outreach to gain a deeper understanding of common legal problems faced by the homeless and low-income community. 
  • Research: Our work also includes several research projects on issues of homelessness, such as informational primers to facilitate access to disability benefits. 

Depending on public health directives, campus policy, community needs, and members’ preferences due to COVID-19, we may continue some of our activities and projects remotely.

Supervision: Students will provide legal services under the supervision of attorneys from the Homeless Action Center  in Berkeley, California and attorneys for the Coalition on Homelessness.

Time Commitment: 15-20 hours/semester 

For more information, please contact the student leaders at HSPProBono@berkeley.edu.