Everyone deserves access to justice. That’s why we’ve offered legal advocacy support since the 1970s. We provide much-needed legal assistance, advice, and representation to low-income and vulnerable people in the Downtown Eastside. Today, we support clients with upwards of 1,400 unique cases every year, helping people resolve a range of issues. Our advocates provide a broad spectrum of legal advocacy services but mainly focus on tenancy and social assistance issues.
The FIRST UNITED Legal Advocacy Clinic can assist you with:
- Disputing an eviction
- Tenancy disputes about repairs and quiet enjoyment
- How to proceed when a landlord owes you money
- Asking your landlord to pay an RTB-granted monetary award
- Dealing with discriminatory eviction based on your identity (race, disability, sexual orientation, etc.)
- Landlord refusal to provide reasonable accommodation requested by your doctor
- Advice on judicial reviews, either following an RTB decision or responding to one filed by your landlord
- Government debt and consumer protection issues
- Employment Insurance applications or reconsiderations
- Employment Standards Branch disputes
- Income-related benefits (i.e. welfare and disability)
In addition to contacting our advocates, you can contact the following organizations for support:
Tenant Resource & Advisory Centre Tenant Infoline (free legal information and referral services): 604.255.0546
Vancouver Rent Bank (emergency rent loans): 604.566.9685, [email protected]
