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Client Stories

JALA saves vulnerable homeowners from foreclosure

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is often the only hope for people facing the loss of their homes to foreclosure. Frequently, the homeowners JALA rescues from losing their homes are elderly, sick or otherwise vulnerable consumers who have paid off their mortgage and obtained a reverse mortgage. These mortgages do not require monthly payments but carry with them traps for the unwary. Elderly homeowners often do not realize they have a problem until a foreclosure judgment is eminent or a foreclosure sale has taken place. Then a caretaking family member intercedes. The seeming hopelessness of the situation makes finding a private attorney difficult, and most clients simply can’t afford a lawyer.

2020-01-27T12:23:08-05:00October 31st, 2019|Client Stories|

Saving Homes: Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the St. Johns Housing Partnership

Tomi Hewell was facing foreclosure on her home after her husband died and she lost his income. With the help of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the St. Johns Housing Partnership, her home was saved. Our deeply valued partnership with SJHP is a national model that helps many people like Tomi Hewell stay in their homes each year.

2020-02-05T12:07:59-05:00October 27th, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing, Video|

JALA’s Fair Housing Unit protects the health and safety of child at risk of seizures

“Anna” rents a mobile home with her 8-year-old daughter, who is diagnosed with multiple disorders that cause seizures, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Due to her serious medical conditions, it’s vital that Anna’s daughter avoid overheating, which can cause or exacerbate her seizures. Anna and her daughter had essentially been without air conditioning since the beginning of May and their home was often hot. The air conditioning unit and its maintenance are the responsibility of the mobile home park owner and management.

2020-01-27T12:28:06-05:00October 5th, 2019|Children's Health, Client Stories, Fair Housing|

Woman allowed to keep emotional support dog thanks to JALA

“Irene” came to JALA after her landlord refused to allow her to keep her emotional support dog in an apartment she’d qualified for even though she had provided a doctor’s note in support of her request. Irene is diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and her treating psychological professional had prescribed the emotional support dog as necessary for her emotional and mental health. As a person with a disability, she is allowed to have a reasonable accommodation to have the full use and enjoyment of her home. Irene believed she had been left with no choice but to give her dog to her mother, but as she prepared to move into the apartment, she did some of her own research on the law. Believing she should be allowed to keep her dog, she contacted the Florida Attorney General’s office, which referred her to JALA.

2020-01-27T12:27:42-05:00October 5th, 2019|Client Stories|

JALA’s Fair Housing Unit enables woman with PTSD to obtain housing accommodations

“Maryanne,” who suffers from PTSD, recently moved from the Midwest to Jacksonville, where she lives in public housing owned and operated by the Jacksonville Housing Authority. The conditions in her roach-infested apartment, where she had to go through a central lobby to get to the elevators, triggered her PTSD, and she was unable to live there. Without taking the proper steps under Florida law, Maryanne withheld her rent due to the conditions of her apartment.

2020-01-27T12:28:54-05:00October 5th, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA’s Housing Unit enables elderly couple to stay in their home

“Belinda” and “Ernest,” an elderly couple living on rental assistance in Fernandina Beach, came to JALA after their rent suddenly increased from $479 to $730. They had lived in the same complex for eight years and couldn’t afford the sudden 66% rent increase. In 2018 their adult daughter had come to the United States from Australia. Because she was unable to handle her own funds, her husband, who was still in Australia, sent Belinda and Ernest money to pay her expenses, including her rent at a motel. The landlord counted these funds as income to Belinda and Ernest and raised their subsidized rent accordingly.

2020-01-27T12:28:31-05:00October 5th, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA and housing partnership save couple’s home from foreclosure

Facing foreclosure on their home, “Evan and Shayla Marks” came to JALA a few weeks prior to the pending sale date. Shayla had developed health problems that caused her to have to give up her job, and she was in the process of applying for Social Security disability. Meanwhile, she and Evan had fallen behind on their mortgage payments and had been trying to enter into a loan modification with their lender. But they were repeatedly told that their papers hadn’t been received. The court directed them to JALA for help.

2020-02-05T12:18:36-05:00October 5th, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

Homeless former day laborer gains income stability after losing his ability to work

“James,” 64, rode his bike to St. Johns County Legal Aid, JALA’s St. Augustine office, to request help with a legal name change. James was homeless, deaf in one ear, and had such a bad knee that he often collapsed and fell. Because of his poor physical condition, he stopped getting chosen when he stood in line for day-labor pick-up.

2020-02-05T12:17:01-05:00October 5th, 2019|Client Stories|

Jacksonville Office

Serving Residents of
Duval County
126 W. Adams St.
Jacksonville, FL 32202
(904) 356-8371

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St. Johns County Legal Aid

Serving Residents of
St. Johns County
222 San Marco Avenue
St. Augustine, FL 32084
(904) 827-9921

Clay County Legal Aid

Serving Residents of
Clay County
825 N. Orange Avenue, Rm 308
Green Cove Springs, FL 32043
(904) 284-8410

Nassau County Legal Aid

Serving Residents of
Nassau County
1901 Island Walk Way, Suite 111
Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
(904) 356-8371
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