Dottie Robinson with her JALA attorney, Eva Paulk
Dottie Robinson, 85, had lived in subsidized housing at Hastings Manor Apartments for 17 years when she received a notice that her lease was not being renewed and she would have to move. Seniors living in subsidized housing have an automatic right to renewal, except when there is good cause to terminate the lease. The housing complex alleged in its notice that Robinson, who is on oxygen and rarely leaves her apartment, had brought bed bugs into the complex.
Not knowing what else to do, Robinson asked her godchildren if she could move in with them. With her godchildren about to pack her things, Robinson received a visit from her in-home helper, who insisted that she seek legal help from St. Johns County Legal Aid, the local office of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
Staff attorney Eva Paulk, an expert in landlord/tenant and subsidized housing law, quickly defeated the outrageous allegation, enabling Robinson to renew her lease. Paulk also told Robinson to call again at the first sign of trouble from her landlord. Robinson was extremely grateful and relieved to be able to remain in her longtime home. She urges other members of the Hastings community to contact legal aid when they face similar issues with their landlords.
