Santa Cruz County Justice Project

The Santa Cruz County Justice Project (SCCJP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing free, bilingual legal advocacy across Santa Cruz County. We help people understand their rights, navigate the legal system, and solve problems that affect their safety, housing stability, and financial wellbeing. Our mission is simple: everyone deserves access to justice and support when facing legal challenges

COMMUNITY NEED

Santa Cruz County is small and rural. Most families speak Spanish at home. Many do not have access to legal support.

The biggest challenges:

• Very few lawyers — 1 attorney for every 1,096 residents in Santa Cruz County
• Arizona ranks 49th in the nation for lawyers per person
• Free Legal Aid is one hour away in Tucson
• Many residents are impacted by limited transportation and high economic barriers
• The local court help desk is limited and cannot give legal advice
• Families face serious problems: eviction, domestic violence, debt, unsafe housing

People often face legal problems alone. SCCJP is not duplicating services — we are filling a real gap by providing free, bilingual legal guidance right here in the community.

WHAT WE OFFER

We help people understand their legal problems and guide them on the next steps so they can proceed with confidence. Everything is free and offered in English and Spanish.

We help with:

• Evictions and housing problems
• Domestic violence and safety
• Debt, garnishments, and money issues
• Small claims and consumer disputes
• Court forms and next steps
• Rights education and self‑advocacy