Client Stories Archives - Page 10 of 16 - Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.

JALA ensures temporary housing for Rachel

JALA ensures temporary housing for Rachel

Anticipating moving into a new rental home with her family, “Rachel” paid her deposit, first month’s rent, and fees to a person she thought was the property agent. Upon moving in, however, the police and the true property agent showed up and warned her to leave. Although she explained that she had unknowingly paid the rent to a scam artist, the property owner refused to let her stay in the home or pay any new form of rent. Confused and not knowing where to go, Rachel remained in the home and began her search for a new place to live.

Dennis Harrison2020-05-21T09:59:34-04:00May 21st, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA protects couple’s CARES Act funds

JALA protects couple’s CARES Act funds

When “Alejandro” tried to pay to fill up his tank at the gas station, he learned that the bank account he shared with his wife was frozen. The couple’s CARES Act emergency stimulus funds had been deposited in the account, but a creditor was attempting to take the stimulus payment. The CARES Act protects stimulus payments from collection of debts owed to federal and state governments but does not yet address debts owed to private debt collectors.

Dennis Harrison2020-05-13T14:33:47-04:00May 13th, 2020|Client Stories|

JALA ensures a safe and habitable home for Evelyn

JALA ensures a safe and habitable home for Evelyn

“Evelyn,” 64, resorted to washing dishes in her bathtub in February after a broken pipe had left her kitchen sink unusable. She texted and called her property manager to try to get the sink repaired, but no repairs were made. Later that month, she had a stroke. From her hospital bed, Evelyn continued to try to get her property manager to repair her sink. She needed to make sure it was done before she got home from rehabilitation.

Dennis Harrison2020-05-13T12:41:38-04:00May 13th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA prevents worker’s termination by invoking ADA

JALA prevents worker’s termination by invoking ADA

Photo not that of the actual client. “Shelly,” who has severe arthritis, had been on an unpaid leave of absence

Dennis Harrison2020-05-13T12:25:19-04:00May 13th, 2020|Client Stories|

JALA helps worker with high COVID-19 risk negotiate with employer

JALA helps worker with high COVID-19 risk negotiate with employer

Photo not that of the actual client. Less than six months before the COVID-19 crisis hit Florida, “Janelle” was hired

Dennis Harrison2020-05-13T12:31:47-04:00May 13th, 2020|Client Stories|

JALA helps tenant avoid unlawful pet fee for service dog

JALA helps tenant avoid unlawful pet fee for service dog

“Joel,” a 32-year-old veteran, came to JALA after moving into a new apartment complex. Before moving in, Joel had informed the property manager that he had a service animal and had even provided pictures and immunization records. But once Joel moved into his apartment, the property manager said he would need to obtain a signed letter from a doctor and fill out lengthy, unlawful forms.

Dennis Harrison2020-05-06T18:32:41-04:00May 6th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing, News|

When a dog is more than a man’s best friend

When a dog is more than a man’s best friend

“Jerome” came to JALA after his property manager notified him that he was in violation of his lease because he had an unauthorized pet. He’d been given seven days to remove the animal, which was actually his emotional support dog, “Dalia.” Jerome had already provided the property manager with a letter from his treating health-care professional verifying that Dalia was an emotional support animal, but he was still forced to move her to a family member’s home.

Dennis Harrison2020-05-07T10:14:55-04:00April 7th, 2020|Client Stories|

JALA intercedes when landlord’s error nearly leaves mother and three children homeless

JALA intercedes when landlord’s error nearly leaves mother and three children homeless

Housing subsidies are a critical lifeline for many low-income families, and they vary depending on the tenant’s income. “Brianna” and her three children lived in an apartment complex where their share of the rent was $224 a month, with the Jacksonville Housing Authority paying the $376 remainder. But in 2019, Brianna lost her Social Security income, leaving her with just $272 a month in child support.

Dennis Harrison2020-03-09T15:14:52-04:00February 24th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA and St. Johns Housing Partnership save home of 90-year-old man

JALA and St. Johns Housing Partnership save home of 90-year-old man

At 90, “Edgar” can’t get around as well as he used to. With no car, he relies on taxis to go places, and sometimes when he can’t get a taxi, he walks to Walmart to pick up his medications or groceries. With no job, friends or family to support him, money is tight – so tight that Edgar was about to lose his home to foreclosure. Saving Edgar’s home was truly a collaborative effort, beginning with private attorneys Clyde Taylor and Brad Waldrop, who referred the case to JALA and have assisted Edgar with legal issues on a pro bono basis in the past. JALA in turn reached out to the St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) for help with a loan modification as JALA attorneys prepared to go to court to stop the foreclosure.

Dennis Harrison2020-03-03T12:41:58-05:00February 6th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA helps low-income senior obtain satisfaction of her debt and stop garnishment

JALA helps low-income senior obtain satisfaction of her debt and stop garnishment

Because of unpaid debt, “June,” 66, was having her income garnished by about $460 a month, which was roughly half her earnings. She believed she had paid her debt in full and that the debtor should have filed paperwork showing her debt had been satisfied. When she reached out to the debtor's attorney on her own, she was ignored. Then she came to JALA. Upon looking further into the case, her JALA attorney realized she may have had a few months left to pay due to the interest that was included in the judgment. Her JALA attorney reached out to the debtor's attorney, who agreed to waive the remainder of what was owed and file a satisfaction. JALA’s intervention saved June from several more months of garnishment she could scarcely afford.

Dennis Harrison2020-02-06T14:31:24-05:00February 6th, 2020|Client Stories, Family Law|