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.
Susannah Collins serves veterans, domestic violence survivors and others pro bono
Susannah Collins is a family law attorney, social investigator, attorney ad litem, and Florida Supreme Court certified family law mediator whose law office is located in Jacksonville’s historic district of Riverside. Her practice focuses on all areas of family law, including divorce, paternity, domestic violence, child time sharing, alimony, enforcement, civil parental kidnapping, and extended family adoptions. Since her practice began nearly 20 years ago, Collins has also offered many legal services pro bono.
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.
Susan E. Mack’s pro bono service provides life-changing benefits to her clients
Susan E.Mack has practiced law for 37 years as a senior corporate counsel and general counsel in the area of insurance and reinsurance transactions. Currently partner and pro bono coordinator at the firm Adams and Reese, Mack has demonstrated a strong commitment to pro bono service.
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.
Changes in store for Freed to Run 4.0 Nov. 16-21
Freed to Run 4.0 , Nov. 16-21, will still feature six marathons in six days from Tallahassee to Jacksonville, but for the first time the sixth and final marathon will be on a Saturday, and the route will include a 14-mile stretch on the Baldwin Trail.
Dr. Paul Pitel of Nemours Children’s Specialty Care to be honored by JALA
Dr. Paul Pitel, who is retiring as longtime chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Nemours Children's Specialty Care in Jacksonville, will be honored by Jacksonville Area Legal Aid during its Bridges to Justice for Children’s Health virtual event, which will be broadcast Tuesday, Sept. 15, at 6:30 p.m. on JALA’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/JaxLegalAid.
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