Housing

Helping Low-Income Tenants Maintain Safe Housing | Tennessee

admin — Tue, 19 May 2020 18:31:35 +0000

Helping Low-Income Tenants Maintain Safe Housing | Tennessee admin Tue, 05/19/2020 - 14:31

During the summer in Memphis, TN, with scorching temperatures above 100 degrees, residents of a low-income trailer park faced termination of their utilities because the landlord had failed to the pay the utility bill.

Six of the trailer park’s residents contacted Memphis Area Legal Services, Inc. (MALS) for help.

MALS filed suit on behalf of the residents and, on the day the shutoff was scheduled to occur, obtained a restraining order to block the termination of utility services to the trailer park.

After helping the residents avoid termination of utility services, MALS was also able to get the restraining order extended until the trailer park had been sold to a new owner who opened a utility account in good standing.

*Names have been changed.

Housing

Tennessee

Elderly Disabled Veteran Fights Wrongful Foreclosure | Colorado

admin — Sat, 04 Apr 2020 20:01:12 +0000

Elderly Disabled Veteran Fights Wrongful Foreclosure | Colorado admin Sat, 04/04/2020 - 16:01

Mr. Johnson* is an elderly and disabled veteran.

He turned to Colorado Legal Services (CLS) for help with a judicial foreclosure filed by the veterans' Home Owner's Association (HOA). The HOA had levied numerous fines against Mr. Johnson based on the home use of a small bus needed because of his disabilities.

Mr. Johnson* is an elderly and disabled veteran.

Mr. Johnson had spent several hundred dollars retrofitting the bus to allow him to use a lift to enable him to get in and out with his wheelchair. The HOA labeled the bus as a commercial vehicle in violation of the HOA rules and brought a foreclosure action for unpaid fines. The HOA refused to negotiate any settlement.

The case went to trial, with a CLS attorney representing Mr. Johnson. Mr. Johnson prevailed at trial; the foreclosure action was dismissed and he was able to keep both the bus and his home.

*Names have been changed

Disability Rights Housing Veterans

Disability Rights Veterans

Colorado

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 22:59:11 +0000

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington admin Mon, 01/25/2016 - 17:59

Paul*, a veteran and single father with three teenage children, was deemed ineligible for a project-based voucher waitlist by a local housing authority because of “poor rental history” and “misrepresentation of criminal history.” Paul contacted Northwest Justice Project (NJP) for help in reversing the decision.

During a contentious discovery process and hearing, NJP established that the housing authority had failed to properly address certain communications to Paul and that the criminal history disclosure sections of the applications were substantially accurate. NJP also discovered that Paul had been struggling to make rental payments because his wages were being garnished by California child support enforcement, even though his children were in his care. NJP negotiated a reasonable repayment plan, reducing his monthly obligations.

The hearings officer reinstated the veteran to the top of the housing list, and Paul’s family was promptly able to move from a crowded one-bedroom apartment to a large three-bedroom apartment.

*Names have been changed.

Housing Veterans

Veterans

Washington

Helping The Elderly Access Safe Housing | Vermont

admin — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 19:36:48 +0000

Helping The Elderly Access Safe Housing | Vermont admin Mon, 01/25/2016 - 14:36

Thomas* is elderly, disabled, and living in subsidized housing.

Thomas was on the verge of losing his housing and his subsidy because of rental arrears. He was unable to manage his limited disability income and was about to become homeless.

Thomas contacted Legal Services Law Line of Vermont, Inc. (Law Line) for help.

Law Line attorneys set up a representative payee who would help make sure Thomas’ rent was paid. Law Line also alerted the housing authorities that Thomas’ non-payment was due to his disability.

The housing authorities waived the arrearage so that Thomas could keep his housing subsidy. He has remained in his house and never had to reside in a homeless shelter.

*Names have been changed.

Disability Rights Elder Law Housing

Disability Rights

Vermont

Helping the Elderly Maintain Safe Housing | Oregon

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 17:45:11 +0000

Helping the Elderly Maintain Safe Housing | Oregon admin Fri, 01/22/2016 - 12:45

Ms. Davis*, an elderly woman, lived in a trailer on a rural piece of land she inherited from her dad. She was developmentally disabled and had recently experienced a series of strokes that further limited her abilities.

Ms. Davis allowed Jacob*, her adult son, to move into the trailer. Soon after Jacob moved in, she became worried that he was using drugs. Jacob would become angry and destroy Ms. Davis’ property, punching walls and destroying doors. Ms. Davis had also asked Jacob to muzzle his aggressive pit bull, but he refused.

Ms. Davis threatened to evict Jacob and get a protective order against him. When his behavior did not stop, Ms. Davis filed the necessary paperwork to have Jacob removed. Jacob threatened to commit suicide if Ms. Davis moved forward with the order, so she decided against attending the court hearing. The case was dismissed.

One day, Jacob’s pit bull attacked Ms. Davis, severely biting her arm. Ms. Davis was airlifted to the hospital, where she had several surgeries and grafts. When doctors released Ms. Davis from the hospital, she was afraid to go home and stayed with a friend who lived in a nearby town. When Ms. Davis tried to apply for another restraining order in the county where her trailer was located, the court clerk told her that she couldn’t appear by phone for the hearing.

Frustrated, Ms. Davis contacted Legal Aid Services of Oregon (LASO) for help. LASO attorneys took her case and gave the court clerks the statute number that allowed an elderly or disabled person to testify to a judge for a protection order by phone.

LASO also represented Ms. Davis at the hearing. Over the phone, Ms. Davis told the judge about her fears regarding Jacob’s violent behavior. She got the protection order and police removed Jacob from her home.

*Names have been changed.

Disability Rights Elder Law Housing

Disability Rights

Oregon

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 22:35:49 +0000

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire admin Thu, 01/21/2016 - 17:35

Bill* is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who lost both legs while serving his country. When the 55-year-old vet called the Legal Advice & Referral Center (LARC) in October 2013, he and his wife were on the verge of losing their rented home in Manchester, NH.

The landlord had obtained an eviction order from the court a week before Bill contacted LARC. With not enough time to legally stop a lockout, the sheriff stood by while Bill’s wife pushed her wheelchair-bound husband out the door of their home. Bill, his wife, and their dog were homeless.

LARC attorneys strategized with the Pro Bono Program of the New Hampshire Bar Association and contacted Easter Seals, a nonprofit that helps children and adults with disabilities and special needs. Easter Seals booked a hotel for the family for two weeks.

During those two weeks, Harbor Homes, a non-profit in Nashua that works with veterans, moved Bill and his family into a long-term affordable unit at their facility. Meanwhile, Bill received a call from U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, who informed Bill that she had succeeded in pushing through his long awaited VA Pension.

Bill expressed his gratitude to his new friends in the legal and social services communities, saying, “You guys have been my miracle.”

*Names have been changed

Housing Veterans

Veterans

New Hampshire

Helping Hard-working Clients Fight Foreclosure | Mississippi

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 17:13:58 +0000

Helping Hard-working Clients Fight Foreclosure | Mississippi admin Thu, 01/21/2016 - 12:13

In early 2012, John* reached out to his mortgage company to request a reduction of his monthly note due to a reduction in his income.

After sending multiple documents to support a loan modification application and talking with multiple representatives, John finally received an offer for a modification that included a balloon note of $96,446.77 due upon the loan’s maturity. This amount was still too much for John to realistically manage on his income so he reached out to North Mississippi Rural Legal Services (NMRLS) for help.

The NMRLS attorney vowed to fight for a better offer, and in January 2014 John received an impressive offer reducing his principal balance of $200,751.49 to $61,100.10 with no balloon note.

John was ecstatic. “Give your office a high five! We got it done,” he exclaimed. This was a big win for John and NMRLS, and is just one story among many great outcomes secured by the foreclosure prevention unit.

*Names have been changed

Housing

Mississippi

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota

admin — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 16:42:49 +0000

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota admin Thu, 01/21/2016 - 11:42

Barbara*, a disabled 60-year-old veteran, was facing eviction and the loss of her Section 8 voucher. She was being evicted because her building had a persistent bed bug problem. Her landlord agreed that she was not the source of the bed bugs, however, because of her disability, she had a hard time with housekeeping. Barbara's landlord believed that the clutter in her apartment was a haven for the bugs.

Barbara turned to the Legal Aid Services of Northeastern Minnesota (LASNM) for help. LASNM attorneys negotiated with the landlord, and all agreed to find another solution.

Barbara's attorneys worked with a local veterans program to give her temporary shelter while her unit was cleaned out. The carpets were torn out and replaced, the walls repainted, she was given a new mattress, and the unit was inspected and certified to be free of bed bugs.

LASNM attorneys also worked with social services to arrange for a home care assistant to visit Barbara regularly to help with her housekeeping needs. Because of LASNM's intervention, Barbara kept her Section 8 voucher and her apartment, her landlord was able to keep a quiet tenant who always paid her rent on time, and the case was kept out of the court system, saving limited judicial resources.

*Names have been changed

Housing Veterans

Veterans

Minnesota

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana

admin — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 22:01:59 +0000

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana admin Wed, 01/20/2016 - 17:01

His doctor from the Veterans Affairs office recommended he have an emotional support/service animal to assist in living successfully in his new housing. Tony found his dream home in a good neighborhood with a nice yard for his support dog. However, the landlord did not want to allow his emotional support/service dog.

Tony contacted legal aid attorneys at Southeast Louisiana ��˶�� for assistance. With new representation, he was able to negotiate his lease using the Fair Housing Act to accommodate his special needs. After his landlord approval, Tony was housed and off the streets.

*Names have been changed

Housing Veterans

Veterans

Louisiana

Saving a Home for a Cancer Survivor

admin — Mon, 17 Aug 2015 17:36:28 +0000

Saving a Home for a Cancer Survivor admin Mon, 08/17/2015 - 13:36

The Smiths*, an Alabama family, were falling behind on their mortgage payments. Mrs. Smith, a cancer patient, could not work because of her illness. They turned to the Anniston office of Legal Services of Alabama (LSA) for help.

While LSA negotiated with one branch of the mortgage service provider to work out payment modifications, another branch foreclosed and purchased the Smiths’ property. The mortgage servicers also filed an ejectment action.

LSC represented the Smiths in the ejectment action, pursuing the defenses available to the client. The court ordered mediation. Prior to the mediation date, the Anniston office of LSA obtained a settlement agreement reinstating the mortgage, forgiving the past due balance of approximately $20,000, and reducing the monthly payment and interest rate by more than half.

The Smiths were able to keep their home during a difficult period of their lives after receiving much-needed legal representation from LSA.

*Names have been changed

Housing

Alabama

Housing

Helping Low-Income Tenants Maintain Safe Housing | Tennessee

Elderly Disabled Veteran Fights Wrongful Foreclosure | Colorado

Helping Veterans Access Housing Benefits | Washington

Helping The Elderly Access Safe Housing | Vermont

Helping the Elderly Maintain Safe Housing | Oregon

Marine Corps Veteran Finds Affordable Housing | New Hampshire

Helping Hard-working Clients Fight Foreclosure | Mississippi

Helping Elderly Veterans Maintain Safe Housing | Minnesota

Helping Veterans Access Safe Housing | Louisiana

Tony*, a homeless Vietnam veteran suffering from PTSD and other disabling conditions, was approved for a special housing voucher.

Saving a Home for a Cancer Survivor