Disability Benefits Advocacy
Social Security Disability Advocacy Program Applying for Social Security Disability Insurance and SSI disability benefits can be a complex and overwhelming task that can take two years or more from application to award. The Hawkins Center's highly trained staff attorneys and advocates provide representation to individuals throughout this process. Advocacy is provided at all levels - from the initial application to federal court appeals - with a focus on hearings held before Social Security Administration Law Judges. Since its inception, Center attorneys have successfully represented over 2,000 individuals. Legal fees are paid from the client's lump sum disability ...
Legal Barriers to Work
Rubicon's Legal and Workforce Services Partnership (LaWS) In its Legal and Workforce Services (LaWS) Program, Hawkins Center works closely with Rubicon’s Workforce Services (WFS) division. WFS provides comprehensive employment services to some of Contra Costa and Alameda County’s residents who face the most challenging barriers to employment: people who are formerly incarcerated, persons who are homeless, disabled, individuals with mental illness, substance abusers, public assistance recipients and low-income custodial and non-custodial parents. Most individuals receiving services have only a high school education or less. Persons facing these barriers typically need intensive support structures and customized opportunities in order to gain a ...
HIV Legal Services
The Contra Costa HIV Legal Services Project Through our Contra Costa HIV Legal Services Project we provide free civil legal services to people living with HIV/AIDS who are low-income residents of Contra Costa County or clients of the Family Care Network. We strive to provide comprehensive, client-friendly services to HIV positive individuals. If we cannot provide the service that is needed, whenever possible we assist in finding someone who can. Available services include: Housing Issues - We can assist with eviction, rent overcharges, unreturned security deposits, landlord's failure to make needed repairs and other issues affecting your housing rights. Powers ...
Mental Health Legal Services
Mental Health Legal Services Project Funded by Equal Justice Works, the Contra Costa Bar Foundation and the California Bar Foundation, the Mental Health Legal Services Project (MHLSP) was initiated in September 2009 to expand the kinds of legal services The Hawkins Center can provide to Contra Costa County Mental Health consumers in West County. The Hawkins Center has long recognized that many of its clients with mental health disabilities have legal needs that extend beyond Social Security representation. Now, the MHLSP has the capacity to represent clients who have a number of different kinds of legal issues. The MHLSP takes referrals directly from ...
Our History
[caption id="attachment_68" align="alignright" width="310" caption="Versie Hawkins: Inspiration for Our Center"][/caption] The Hawkins Center is named after Versie Hawkins, a woman who sought representation to obtain her Social Security disability benefits after suffering a severe back injury in 1982. Her story is typical of the clients served by The Hawkins Center. Prior to her injury, Mrs. Hawkins had worked steadily since the age of eighteen supporting her family of six children. After suffering the injury, she became completely disabled and unable to continue in her occupation as a nurse's aid. Like millions of Americans, she turned to the Social Security Administration for ...
