IIBA and Coastside Hope partner to meet urgent need for legal services
Severely underserved immigrant communities of Half Moon Bay, Pescadero and Pacifica to benefit from legal expertise
SAN FRANCISCO – To meet the growing and urgent need for immigration legal services in underserved Bay Area peninsula immigrant communities, the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (IIBA) is partnering with Coastside Hope to expand outreach and immigration legal resources to some of our most vulnerable community members.
Since 1976, Coastside Hope has served the rural California coastal community ofthe San Francisco Bay Area, Coastside Hope’s clients include the workers that fuel key industries such as farming, nurseries, hotels, hospitality, restaurants, construction, and commercial fishing – all highly dependent on immigrant workers just to operate.
Despite making significant contributions to the community, immigrants are now facingincreased challenges that impact almost every aspect of their lives. With current policies, many community members are experiencing fear of family separation or deportation. They live in constant uncertainty, fear for their safety, lack economic stability,and typically have very limited legal support.
In response to these urgent needs, Coastside Hope continues to be a trusted lifelinefor immigrant families across our community by supporting over 6,000 individuals annually with safety-net and immigration services. Eighty-three percent of clients are people of color, and 1 in 6 are farmworkers. Last year alone, Coastside Hope provided 2,367 immigration consultations and case follow-ups for 1,019 clients, while welcoming 32 new citizens, through its existing services.
With this partnership, IIBA will fortify Coastside Hope’s immigrant programs to meet an escalating demand for critical immigration services within the community. IIBA, the largest and oldest nonprofit offering immigration legal services in the San Francisco Bay Area, will provide individual consultations to guide clients towards the most viable legal path to naturalization or a stable immigrant legal status, including U-Visa (refugees), T-Visa (trafficking), removal defense, and temporary protected status.
“IIBA Redwood City is proud to be providing immigration legal services to the rural San Mateo Coast region, with our longtime trusted partner, Coastside Hope. For too long, the residents of the coastal area of San Mateo County have not had access to high quality, low cost immigration legal services. We are pleased to bridge this gap in legal services, and look forward to expanding access to justice in this vital part of the state,” said Amanda Alvarado Ford, Deputy Directing Attorney in IIBA’s Redwood City office.
“Coastside Hope is honored to join forces with the IIBA to deliver high-quality, culturally responsive immigration legal services to our community,” said Judith Guerrero, executive director of Coastside Hope. “This collaboration brings vital, accessible support, at no cost, to our neighbors, empowering families with the expert guidance they need to navigate complex immigration systems and build more secure, hopeful futures. This partnership reflects Coastside Hope’s ongoing commitment to serving as a trusted hub for essential services that are otherwise unavailable on the Coastside.”
About the Immigration Institute of the Bay Area
Since 1918, the IIBA has welcomed and served refugees and immigrants throughout our country’s ever-changing immigration policies. Today, IIBA is the largest non profit provider of immigration legal services in Northern California with 7 offices in 6 Bay Area counties, supporting over 10,000 vulnerable members in our community every year.
About Coastside Hope
Founded in 1976, Coastside Hope’s mission is providing the necessities for today and opportunities for tomorrow to enhance the quality of life for all our neighbors. As neighbors helping neighbors, Coastside Hope is a lifeline to over 6,000 individuals representing over 2,200 households, providing essential support and fostering stability, empowerment, and self-sufficiency in the Coastside communities of San Mateo County.
Media inquiries / interview requests:
Coastside Hope: Curt Harris, Development Director: curt@coastsidehope.org
IIBA: Delfin Vigil, Director of Communications: media@iibayarea.org
