Low-income Americans in the West did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of their civil legal problems in the past year.
The 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey showed that 72% of low-income households in the West experienced at least one civil legal problem in the past year, and 38% experienced at least five. The most common types of problems related to consumer issues, health care, and income maintenance. Individuals from low-income households in the West sought legal help for 29% of the problems that substantially affected them.
Scroll down for an infographic summarizing key findings related to low-income households in the West or download a PDF of the infographic.
14% of the population in the West is below 125% of poverty.
11.1 million children and adults in the West have incomes below 125% of the poverty threshold.
Data source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, 2021 Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
72% of low-income households in the West had at least 1 civil legal problem in the past year.
38% had 5+ problems in past year.
28% had 10+ problems in past year.
Common problem areas:
Consumer Issues (46%)
Health care (40%)
Income maintenance (37%)
n = 402 households in the West.
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
n = 558 substantial problems
Sought legal help for 29% of substantial problems.
Did not receive any or enough legal help for 92% of substantial problems.
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
At or below 125% of FPL (n=402):
- 40% are confident they could find and afford a lawyer if they needed one to help resolve a serious civil legal problem.
Between 125% and 400% of FPL (n=529):
- 59% are confident.
At or above 400% of FPL (n=253):
- 70% are confident.
Data source: 2021 Justice Gap Measurement Survey.
Approximately 407,000 eligible problems brought to LSC-funded organizations in the West annually.
They are unable to provide any or enough legal help for 78% of these problems.
Data source: LSC’s 2021 Intake Census.
