(Photo not of actual client).
“Sarah” had lived in subsidized Section 8 housing since 1992 but lost her eligibility after housing authority personnel alleged she had been abusive toward them. Not knowing how to appeal, she turned to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s housing unit.
Her JALA attorney filed a grievance on her behalf, and at a subsequent hearing, he convinced the hearing officer to sequester the witnesses so that they wouldn’t influence each other’s testimony.
Two of the witnesses testified that Sarah was pleasant and that they didn’t believe she’d been aggressive at all. A third witness who was unable to attend the hearing had provided a written statement that corroborated those two. The next day, the hearing officer reinstated Sarah’s Section 8 housing. She was ecstatic.
