Client Stories Archives - Page 10 of 15 - Jacksonville Area Legal Aid, Inc.

Tenant who uses a wheelchair will get a first-floor unit thanks to JALA’s help

Tenant who uses a wheelchair will get a first-floor unit thanks to JALA’s help

Janie, 68, lives in a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit property along with her service dog. She has lived in the same unit for seven years, during which she has developed increasing disabilities. She now uses a wheelchair, and it became difficult for her to live on a higher floor and take care of herself and her dog, as she is no longer able to use the stairs. She therefore asked the property manager to be moved to a first-floor unit.

Dennis Harrison2020-01-27T12:44:18-05:00January 6th, 2020|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA helps widower avoid eviction and renegotiate his student loan payments

JALA helps widower avoid eviction and renegotiate his student loan payments

“Nate,” 57, came to JALA seeking help with a student loan garnishment. A former felon, he had long ago served his time and had been striving to be a productive member of society ever since. He’d gotten married, had a baby boy and gone to school to become a welder. However, his criminal record was hindering his efforts to find a job.

Dennis Harrison2020-01-27T11:31:17-05:00December 11th, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA saves man’s home from foreclosure

JALA saves man’s home from foreclosure

“Alan” came to JALA after being unable to make his FHA loan payment for about six months. He’d taken out the loan the previous year and then fallen behind during a contentious and costly custody battle, which had taken a toll on his mental health. Alan had sought help from the St. Johns Housing Partnership, who was told by the loan servicer that because he had not made the FHA-required number of consecutive monthly payments, he was ineligible for a loan modification. They advised him to contact JALA for help with the foreclosure case filed against him.

Dennis Harrison2020-01-27T11:34:29-05:00December 11th, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA helps woman recover from job loss resulting from a flat tire

JALA helps woman recover from job loss resulting from a flat tire

Having relocated from New Jersey to Jacksonville in 2018, “Eileen” took a job as a customer service representative in a call center located on the city’s southside. The call center was soon acquired by a new company, which placed Eileen and the other transferred employees into a mandatory six-week training program that had a "zero tolerance" policy for absenteeism. During the second week of training Eileen experienced a flat tire on her way to work. She immediately notified her employer via their automated call-in line that she couldn’t make it to work and then went in search of a replacement tire.

Dennis Harrison2020-01-27T11:34:00-05:00December 6th, 2019|Client Stories, Family Law|

JALA’s Fair Housing Unit stops property manager’s discrimination against tenant

JALA’s Fair Housing Unit stops property manager’s discrimination against tenant

“Hassan” came to Jacksonville Area Legal Aid for help defending an eviction. His property manager had previously sued him for eviction, but Hassan had won. The property manager had then sued him in small claims court, where Hassan won again. When Hassan came to JALA he was seeking to defend a second attempted eviction by the same property manager. With the help of a JALA housing lawyer, Hassan won that eviction case too.

Dennis Harrison2020-01-27T12:21:14-05:00November 1st, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA ensures public housing properly accommodates people with disabilities

JALA ensures public housing properly accommodates people with disabilities

The Jacksonville Housing Authority denied “Liz,” who has disabilities, the live-in aide she had chosen to help her with daily activities. After being forced to withdraw its denial, the Housing Authority then made her wait eight months for approval to move into her apartment. As a result of the initial denial and lengthy delay, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Unit filed an administrative complaint on Liz’s behalf, alleging an improper denial of the request for a reasonable accommodation of a live-in aide.

Dennis Harrison2020-01-27T12:22:12-05:00October 31st, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing|

JALA saves vulnerable homeowners from foreclosure

JALA saves vulnerable homeowners from foreclosure

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is often the only hope for people facing the loss of their homes to foreclosure. Frequently, the homeowners JALA rescues from losing their homes are elderly, sick or otherwise vulnerable consumers who have paid off their mortgage and obtained a reverse mortgage. These mortgages do not require monthly payments but carry with them traps for the unwary. Elderly homeowners often do not realize they have a problem until a foreclosure judgment is eminent or a foreclosure sale has taken place. Then a caretaking family member intercedes. The seeming hopelessness of the situation makes finding a private attorney difficult, and most clients simply can’t afford a lawyer.

Dennis Harrison2020-01-27T12:23:08-05:00October 31st, 2019|Client Stories|

Saving Homes: Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the St. Johns Housing Partnership

Saving Homes: Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the St. Johns Housing Partnership

Tomi Hewell was facing foreclosure on her home after her husband died and she lost his income. With the help of Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and the St. Johns Housing Partnership, her home was saved. Our deeply valued partnership with SJHP is a national model that helps many people like Tomi Hewell stay in their homes each year.

Dennis Harrison2020-02-05T12:07:59-05:00October 27th, 2019|Client Stories, Fair Housing, Video|

JALA’s Fair Housing Unit protects the health and safety of child at risk of seizures

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.

admin2020-01-27T12:28:06-05:00October 5th, 2019|Children's Health, Client Stories, Fair Housing|

Woman allowed to keep emotional support dog thanks to JALA

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.

admin2020-01-27T12:27:42-05:00October 5th, 2019|Client Stories|