Client Stories

“Lester,” a man in his 70s who had been renting his home for over 30 years, was surprised to receive a notice from his landlord saying he had 10 days to leave his home or else he would be evicted. His landlord claimed he owed $1,300, but Lester had always paid his rent on time. Afraid of losing his long-time home, made affordable to him through a federal rental subsidy, Lester came to JALA for help. Lester enjoyed the continuity of his home in a quiet neighborhood near his doctor’s appointments. He did not want to move.

“Jaquan,” who has a disability and lives in public housing, was having problems with the conditions of his apartment and that of his neighbor as the result of faulty air conditioning units. His own air conditioning unit filled up with mold and mildew, and his neighbor’s leaked down into his apartment through the ceiling and walls, causing further mold and mildew.

“Jonathan” was displaced from his home after it was destroyed in a fire. Through his insurance, his family was placed in an apartment complex while they decide whether to rebuild or move. Jonathan has physical disabilities, including quadriplegia, so he needed a number of modifications to the new apartment, including a keyless entry door lock, a Wi-Fi-capable thermostat, and a door handle to replace the knob on his back patio door. Unfortunately, he and his wife were unable to get permission from the property management to make the necessary modifications to the apartment. 

“Arturo,” who had stage 4 mesothelioma, came to JALA facing a foreclosure of his deceased mother's home. He was able to afford the mortgage payments, but first he needed to get the title to be transferred to his name. JALA attorney Carol Miller stepped in to handle probate on Arturo’s mother’s estate.  

“Josie,” who lives in an apartment with her 4-year-old son, sought help from JALA after experiencing repeated problems with her apartment’s air conditioning unit. Josie’s son has multiple disabilities and is at risk if he becomes overheated. During the day in the summer, the temperature in her apartment would go above 85 degrees, forcing her and her son to leave until after 8 p.m. each day. Maintenance of the air conditioning unit is the responsibility of the property management, but the manager made only excuses and not the necessary repairs.

“Lashawn,” who participates in the Housing Choice Voucher Program, came to JALA for help when her rental home became uninhabitable and her property manager refused to allow her to break her lease so that she could relocate. The conditions in the home, which included holes in the floors that allowed rats to enter, were adversely affecting her health, which was already compromised by kidney disease requiring dialysis.