Photo not that of the actual clients.
“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.
After their daughter returned to Australia, her husband sent Belinda and Ernest a letter informing them that he would no longer be sending them money since his wife had returned to Australia. They took the letter to their landlord and requested an interim recertification of their rent so that it would once again be at a level they could afford.
The landlord denied their request, which was a violation of federal regulations. JALA’s Housing Defense Unit negotiated with the landlord, and after contacting the federal department administering his clients’ subsidy, the JALA attorney was able to get them an immediate recertification. As a result, their rent was reduced to an affordable level based on their income. The clients were ecstatic that their home was saved and told their JALA attorney he was a superstar.
