Photo not that of the actual client
“Louise,” 80, lives with her son in an apartment partially subsidized with a Housing Choice Voucher. She and her son, who has a disability, both receive Social Security benefits, which they depend on to pay the rent. Because the rent is due by the 15th of each month and the Social Security checks do not arrive until the fourth Thursday of the month, Louise has struggled to pay the rent on time. She had made an arrangement under which the property management allowed her to pay after the 15th, but they reneged on that agreement and threatened her with an eviction lawsuit for failing to pay on time. JALA Fair Housing Unit attorney Suzanne Garrow intervened on Louise’s behalf and requested, as a reasonable accommodation, that Louise and her son be allowed to pay their rent after receiving their Social Security checks each month, without costs, fees, or penalties. Garrow also requested, as a reasonable accommodation, that Louise and her son be allowed to pay by money order or cashier’s check, due to their difficulties using a computer. Both reasonable accommodation requests were granted, and Louise and her son have been able to remain in their home without threat of eviction.
