Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance , Inc.

Established in 1968, GBLA is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote social change and justice by providing high quality legal services to the low-income community. For over thirty five years we have helped thousands of our poorest and most vulnerable residents with an array of legal issues predominantly involving housing; family and children services; senior services; and maintaining economic stability. Many of our services involve assistance with accessing basic necessities of life such as health care, education and food. GBLA is located in Kern County, California-one of the poorest regions in the nation and located in what is defined as an economically distressed region by the State of California. Kern's per capita income was $21,021 while California and the United States had significantly higher per capita incomes at $32,655 and $30,413, respectively. For every $1.00 that the average Californian had in their pocket during 2001, Kern County residents had only $.64. This ratio has fallen steadily since 1991 when county residents had $.77 for every $1.00 (US Bureau of Economic Analysis). With a growing population of 646,000, Kern County is situated in south-central California occupying 8,170.3 square miles. According a Brookings Institution study (2002), Bakersfield, Kern County's largest metropolitan city, is ranked number two in the nation as the city with the greatest number of people in poverty. Poverty in Bakersfield grew 69.8% between 1990-2000. Currently, the trend shows poverty continues to grow in our service area as the gap between those at the lower-end and those in the above-middle income level is widening. With a county so poor, it should not be surprising to know that our law office receives between 200 - 250 phone calls a day from people seeking legal aid services. And while our justice system must work for all citizens, regardless of income, our resources are very limited and we are not able to help everyone. However, our dedicated staff ends up helping thousands of low-income individuals and families with access to justice each year. Preventing homelessness, ending further instances of abuse and discrimination, ensuring children live in stable home environments, and moving the most vulnerable of individuals and families from what seems to be hopeless situations to self-sufficiency are just a few of the services we provide. I hope that in viewing our website you will get a good sense of the vital role we play in representing those who oftentimes do not have a voice and for the passion and commitment we hold in empowering low-income individuals, families and communities in being their own agents of change. And finally, I welcome any feedback on how we can work together to better promote social change and justice for Kern County's low-income community. Thank you for visiting our website and for your interest in the services we provide.