Center for Civil Justice

Advocating for Those in Need

RACIAL EQUITY

HEALTH EQUITY

HOUSING EQUITY

Fighting Poverty Through Advocacy

We are a unique law firm where ALL of our advocacy is dedicated to protecting the needs and rights of low-income individuals and families.

CCJ provides free help to low-income individuals and families with questions or problems regarding governmental health care programs, including Medicaid, or other public benefits through its Health Eligibility Law Project (HELP) Line. Please go to the HELP Line tab for more information. Se habla Español

Center for Civil Justice was originally established as the Genesee County Legal Aid Society in 1951. In 1996, Congress enacted new legislation prohibiting federally-funded legal services agencies from offering certain advocacy services, including class-action litigation and legislative advocacy. CCJ was born as a result of these new restrictions, with the organization restructuring itself to ensure that it could continue to provide these vital services.

IMPACT LITIGATION SUCCESSES:

Elimination of illegal work requirements under the Healthy Michigan Plan resulting in over 160,000 people maintaining coverage;
Restoring $52 million in food assistance benefits to over 17,000 people after a court ruling that MDHHS cannot deny or cut off food assistance benefits solely because a person allegedly has a felony warrant;
Challenging the constitutionality of the Secretary of State’s policy to allow mobile home parks to acquire title to abandoned mobile homes without due process which stopped the practice.

ADVOCACY EFFORTS:

How You Can Help

The Center for Civil Justice advocates for people in Michigan who need help meeting their basic needs. The Center for Civil Justice uses legal expertise, informed by the experiences of low income people, to monitor and improve public policy and access to governmental programs and services.