Resources

211 --   2-1-1 is a free, non-emergency, confidential, 3-digit phone number and service that provides easy access to housing information, and critical health and human services. 2-1-1 operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with multi-lingual capabilities.

Alameda County Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service & Volunteer Legal Service: (510) 302-2222 - https://www.acbanet.org/ -- For a $35 fee, collected at intake, you will be given contact information for two attorneys qualified to represent you. This fee includes a consultation of up to 30 minutes with an attorney.

Bay Area Legal Aid: (510) 663-4744 - http://www.baylegal.org/offices/alameda/ -- “BayLegal is committed to providing meaningful access to the civil justice system through quality legal assistance regardless of a client's location, language or disability.”  Bay Area Legal Aid is free to those who qualify.

Conciliation Forums of Oakland (CFO): (510) 763-2117 or e-mail cfo@grin.net - http://consumerservicesguide.org/ -- CFO provides a variety of community and individual mediation services, including landlord-tenant, consumer, workplace, family, youth and neighborhood mediation services. Mediators are trained volunteers from East Bay communities who represent a variety of ages, ethnic groups, religions, sexual orientations, occupations, life experiences and native languages. CFO helps to avoid the cost and delays of the court system. There is a nominal fee, however, no one is turned away for lack of funds.

Eviction Defense Center: (510) 452-4541  http://evictiondefense.org - for tenants facing eviction or landlord-tenant issues.

Echo Housing: (888) 887-ECHO (3246) - http://www.echofairhousing.org/ -- ECHO’s Tenant/Landlord Counseling Program provides information to tenants and landlords.  Additionally, ECHO has trained mediators to assist in resolving housing disputes.  For information on Alameda County’s Mandatory Rent Mediation Notification and Rent Mediation Services email them at rentmediation@echofairhousing.com.

Family Violence Law Center (FVLC) (510) 208-0220 - http://fvlc.org/ -- Family Violence Law Center is a non-profit organization serving family violence victims and their children throughout Alameda County. If you or someone you know is being abused, please call their crisis line: (800) 947-8301. FVLC does not charge for their services, but they do accept donations.

Lawyers in the Library Program: (510) 757-7713 --  Alameda Free Library - on the first Wednesday of the month – hosts volunteer attorneys who provide free consultation and referrals on a wide variety of issues including landlord tenant disputes, probate matters, employment problems, and other general consumer issues. Unlike many volunteer legal service programs, patrons need not meet specific income eligibility requirements, nor do volunteers form attorney-client relationships with those they help. 

Legal Assistance for Seniors (LAS): (510) 832-3040 http://www.lashicap.org/ -- LAS provides free legal advice and information, representation in court and administrative hearings, referrals to other community resources, and community education and training on legal issues. Additionally, LAS provides legal assistance to seniors 60 and older at the Mastick Senior Center on the third Monday of the month between 1 and 3 PM. For an appointment at Mastick call (510) 747-7506.