Jacksonville Area Legal Aid helping people fight evictions and stay in housing
Attorney Suzanne Garrow, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid Since Florida's eviction moratorium expired on Oct. 1, 716 eviction cases have been
Pro Bono Attorney Helps Client Obtain Safe and Secure Housing
My client, who is deaf, was jumped by a group of men while walking home from work. Two days later his apartment was burglarized. The case caught my attention after it was reported by Vic Micolucci at News 4 Jax. It was especially interesting to me because the victim (and my client to be) was a cook at a local restaurant in the Lakewood area where I am a fairly frequent diner. My client’s apartment complex made some temporary repairs to correct the damage from the break in, but not enough to make much of a difference. There were also serious problems due to roaches and rats and there had been a major water leak that was causing serious mold issues. It was a bad situation and my client wanted to find a new place to live without having to worry about an eviction on his record.
Eviction Defense Self Help Project – Keeping Roofs Over Heads!
An eviction was filed against a tenant for non-payment of rent, but she had paid rent consistently during the term of the lease. The tenant relied on public transportation; to ensure rent payment, each month the landlord drove to the property, picked up the tenant, drove her to an ATM where she withdrew the rent money, paid it to landlord, and then the tenant was dropped back off at the property. The landlord was trying to force the tenant out and misrepresented non-payment of rent in the eviction complaint a few days after having taken her money. The landlord also alleged breach of the lease due to the tenant having other adults on the property who were not listed on the lease. These other adults were the tenant’s babysitters for her children when she had to go to work. These babysitters were also present and witnessed when the landlord came to pick up the tenant to drive her to the ATM for rent payments.
JALA helps veteran obtain housing that accommodates his PTSD
“Sebastian,” 67, a veteran who suffers from PTSD and other service-connected psychological and emotional issues, contacted St. Johns County Legal Aid for help when his quiet upstairs neighbors moved away and were replaced by a noisy family.
CDC order protects Floridians as state’s eviction moratorium expires
For the first time since April — when businesses were forced to close down — Floridians will be without statewide protections against evictions and foreclosures. Despite Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' decision to allow the eviction moratorium to expire, Florida families who can’t pay rent after losing their jobs due to COVID-19 still have protections under a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention order. The federal order is set to expire on Dec. 31.
Eviction Moratorium Extended
Last night Governor Ron DeSantis extended the temporary ban on evictions and foreclosures. Hundreds of people are still getting notices for evictions
Housing Discrimination: History of Redlining
First Coast News Housing Discrimination: History of Redlining August 26, 2020 Suzanne Garrow, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid
New online tool helps Floridians respond to an eviction lawsuit
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (Aug. 6, 2020) — Floridians facing eviction can use a new online tool to create a legal response based on
Foreclosure lawsuit against older veteran dismissed thanks to JALA
“Henry,” a 70-year-old veteran, found himself facing a foreclosure lawsuit. Intimidated by the legal process and still grieving after the lengthy illness and death of his wife, he failed to respond to the court and eventually turned to JALA for assistance after a foreclosure judgment had been entered.
Veteran’s home saved by JALA and St. Johns Housing Partnership
As a result of a series of health issues and his wife’s terminal cancer, 59-year-old “Bill,” a U.S. veteran, fell behind on his mortgage payments. He then neglected the resulting foreclosure lawsuit while nursing his wife until her death. Eventually, he turned to JALA for help.