Wiffle golf tournament challenges even best golfer
Steve Pajcic, right, points at Thomas Lloyd, a prior year hole-in-one challenge winner – With them are Walt Nicholson and his
JALA’s Fair Housing Unit protects the health and safety of child at risk of seizures
“Anna” rents a mobile home with her 8-year-old daughter, who is diagnosed with multiple disorders that cause seizures, including epilepsy and cerebral palsy. Due to her serious medical conditions, it’s vital that Anna’s daughter avoid overheating, which can cause or exacerbate her seizures. Anna and her daughter had essentially been without air conditioning since the beginning of May and their home was often hot. The air conditioning unit and its maintenance are the responsibility of the mobile home park owner and management.
Woman allowed to keep emotional support dog thanks to JALA
“Irene” came to JALA after her landlord refused to allow her to keep her emotional support dog in an apartment she’d qualified for even though she had provided a doctor’s note in support of her request. Irene is diagnosed with major depressive disorder, and her treating psychological professional had prescribed the emotional support dog as necessary for her emotional and mental health. As a person with a disability, she is allowed to have a reasonable accommodation to have the full use and enjoyment of her home. Irene believed she had been left with no choice but to give her dog to her mother, but as she prepared to move into the apartment, she did some of her own research on the law. Believing she should be allowed to keep her dog, she contacted the Florida Attorney General’s office, which referred her to JALA.
JALA’s Fair Housing Unit enables woman with PTSD to obtain housing accommodations
“Maryanne,” who suffers from PTSD, recently moved from the Midwest to Jacksonville, where she lives in public housing owned and operated by the Jacksonville Housing Authority. The conditions in her roach-infested apartment, where she had to go through a central lobby to get to the elevators, triggered her PTSD, and she was unable to live there. Without taking the proper steps under Florida law, Maryanne withheld her rent due to the conditions of her apartment.
JALA’s Housing Unit enables elderly couple to stay in their home
“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.
JALA saves family home of Ryan White client
(Photo not that of the actual client) “Jim,” a Ryan White client, came to JALA after falling behind on his
JALA and housing partnership save couple’s home from foreclosure
Facing foreclosure on their home, “Evan and Shayla Marks” came to JALA a few weeks prior to the pending sale date. Shayla had developed health problems that caused her to have to give up her job, and she was in the process of applying for Social Security disability. Meanwhile, she and Evan had fallen behind on their mortgage payments and had been trying to enter into a loan modification with their lender. But they were repeatedly told that their papers hadn’t been received. The court directed them to JALA for help.
Homeless former day laborer gains income stability after losing his ability to work
“James,” 64, rode his bike to St. Johns County Legal Aid, JALA’s St. Augustine office, to request help with a legal name change. James was homeless, deaf in one ear, and had such a bad knee that he often collapsed and fell. Because of his poor physical condition, he stopped getting chosen when he stood in line for day-labor pick-up.
Elderly couple wrestling with mentally ill grandson turns to legal aid
(Photo not that of the actual clients.) “Ben,” a 91-year-old WWII veteran, and his 89-year old wife, “Rita,” came to
Cuban refugee becomes a citizen with help from JALA’s immigration unit
Juan José Bestard de la Feria became a citizen of the United States of America Nov. 13, 2018 thanks to help from