Eviction Protections During the COVID-19 Crisis
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CM’s Guide to Working at a Non-Profit Law Firm
For students planning on going to law school, getting exposure to the legal field before signing on the dotted line for three years is invaluable. As helpful as a summer legal internship might be, most law firms don’t offer internships for undergraduate students. Feeling disappointed? FEAR NOT, NORTHEAST FLORIDA RESIDENTS OR STUDENTS SHOULD CHECK OUT THE NON-PROFIT LAW FIRM JACKSONVILLE AREA LEGAL AID (JALA). THE SCOOP ON JALA
Message from JALA CEO Jim Kowalski
It will be a long time before any of us forgets 2020. While the year has been rough on all of us, it has been especially hard on the low-income population Jacksonville Area Legal Aid serves, many of whom were among the first to suffer the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The effects of the coronavirus were not only evident in our community’s medical facilities, but also its food banks, shelters and yes, at JALA, where we fielded more than 9,000 requests for assistance, a 40% increase over 2019. Two areas where the needs increased the most were in eviction prevention and protection from domestic violence. Our attorneys and staff rose to the challenge of serving thousands of clients while working remotely for everyone’s safety. When we succeed, we stabilize families and thereby the community at large. Your support will enable JALA to serve more of those who would otherwise not have access to civil legal aid, thereby increasing the community’s resilience as we all seek to emerge from the global pandemic and restore our collective prosperity. Best wishes to you and your loved ones for a healthy and happy holiday season, and thank you for your support.
Domestic violence cases surge during pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a doubling of requests for help from domestic violence survivors, with Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s staff handling nearly 300 domestic violence intakes through early December 2020, compared to 140 in all of 2019. “There has definitely been an increase in survivors requesting family law assistance since the pandemic,” said Michelle Broyles, division chief of JALA’s Family Law & Victim Advocacy Unit. “On a normal day, survivors live in fear, but when there is a lock down, ‘safe at home’ is not safe for everyone. Lockdowns force survivors to stay in close quarters with their abusers.”
JALA’s housing unit plays a crucial role during the pandemic
With eviction filings having quickly resumed after the lifting of the statewide moratorium, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid has seen a 50% increase in requests for help with landlord-tenant matters over 2019 levels. Mary DeVries, division chief of JALA’s housing unit, said she’s hearing from people who are thousands of dollars in debt after suffering the economic fallout of the pandemic. Having foreseen the surge in eviction filing, JALA last summer launched a new online tool to help Floridians create a legal response based initially on the state’s moratorium on evictions for nonpayment directly related to COVID-19, as well as the CARES Act, and later on the CDC eviction moratorium.
JALA ensures apartment complex provides accessible parking, ramp
“Theo” turned to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid for assistance in obtaining reasonable accommodations due to his disabilities. He had been living in the same apartment complex for 28 years and was previously accommodated by the property management with an accessible parking space. However, after the property management repaved and repainted the parking lot in the apartment complex, his accessible parking space was removed and not replaced. In addition, although Theo had been provided with a ramp to his unit, the property management had never installed grab bars or railings as promised.
JALA invokes CARES Act protections to prevent eviction of mother and daughter
“Rashida,” who receives a voucher to help with her rent, nonetheless fell behind on her payments when her employer cut her hours because of the coronavirus pandemic. Her landlord then sued to evict her, ignoring provisions of the CARES Act that protect tenants with HUD vouchers whose income was affected by the pandemic.
JALA stops elderly tenant’s wrongful eviction
“Eunice,” who is 76 and deaf, had been living in the same apartment for more than a decade without any problem, paying her rent on time and keeping to herself. Her only visitors are her children and grandchildren, who stop by to check on her. One day, Eunice received a notice from her landlord claiming that her grandson was living with her as an unauthorized occupant of the apartment.
JALA prevents eviction based on false allegations
“Ariana,” was having problems with her neighbors in a public housing apartment complex. They had been harassing her ever since she reported them to management for using a fake parking pass and blocking other vehicles. During one of these incidents, her neighbor flashed a gun at her and threatened her. She called the police and filed for an injunction, not knowing what else to do. Her neighbor tried to turn the tables on her and told management that Ariana was the one who had threatened violence.
Editorial: Lawyers help level the playing field
Jim Kowalski, who heads Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, told the Times-Union Editorial Board that the agency is preparing for a surge in evictions in January.