JALA prevents worker’s termination by invoking ADA
Photo not that of the actual client. “Shelly,” who has severe arthritis, had been on an unpaid leave of absence
JALA helps worker with high COVID-19 risk negotiate with employer
Photo not that of the actual client. Less than six months before the COVID-19 crisis hit Florida, “Janelle” was hired
JALA helps tenant avoid unlawful pet fee for service dog
“Joel,” a 32-year-old veteran, came to JALA after moving into a new apartment complex. Before moving in, Joel had informed the property manager that he had a service animal and had even provided pictures and immunization records. But once Joel moved into his apartment, the property manager said he would need to obtain a signed letter from a doctor and fill out lengthy, unlawful forms.
When a dog is more than a man’s best friend
“Jerome” came to JALA after his property manager notified him that he was in violation of his lease because he had an unauthorized pet. He’d been given seven days to remove the animal, which was actually his emotional support dog, “Dalia.” Jerome had already provided the property manager with a letter from his treating health-care professional verifying that Dalia was an emotional support animal, but he was still forced to move her to a family member’s home.
JALA intercedes when landlord’s error nearly leaves mother and three children homeless
Housing subsidies are a critical lifeline for many low-income families, and they vary depending on the tenant’s income. “Brianna” and her three children lived in an apartment complex where their share of the rent was $224 a month, with the Jacksonville Housing Authority paying the $376 remainder. But in 2019, Brianna lost her Social Security income, leaving her with just $272 a month in child support.
JALA and St. Johns Housing Partnership save home of 90-year-old man
At 90, “Edgar” can’t get around as well as he used to. With no car, he relies on taxis to go places, and sometimes when he can’t get a taxi, he walks to Walmart to pick up his medications or groceries. With no job, friends or family to support him, money is tight – so tight that Edgar was about to lose his home to foreclosure. Saving Edgar’s home was truly a collaborative effort, beginning with private attorneys Clyde Taylor and Brad Waldrop, who referred the case to JALA and have assisted Edgar with legal issues on a pro bono basis in the past. JALA in turn reached out to the St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) for help with a loan modification as JALA attorneys prepared to go to court to stop the foreclosure.
JALA helps low-income senior obtain satisfaction of her debt and stop garnishment
Because of unpaid debt, “June,” 66, was having her income garnished by about $460 a month, which was roughly half her earnings. She believed she had paid her debt in full and that the debtor should have filed paperwork showing her debt had been satisfied. When she reached out to the debtor's attorney on her own, she was ignored. Then she came to JALA. Upon looking further into the case, her JALA attorney realized she may have had a few months left to pay due to the interest that was included in the judgment. Her JALA attorney reached out to the debtor's attorney, who agreed to waive the remainder of what was owed and file a satisfaction. JALA’s intervention saved June from several more months of garnishment she could scarcely afford.
JALA helps family get a hardship extension on their search for subsidized housing
“Timir and Amal Asan” and their four young children are refugees who were legally admitted to the United States in 2016. They had applied for housing from the Jacksonville Housing Authority in 2016 and finally got their Section 8 subsidized housing voucher in the fall of 2019. Under this program, the voucher entitles them to subsidized rent. Once they got the voucher, the family had 60 days to find a rental property within a defined low-income rent range, get the landlord to agree to rent to them under the Section 8 program, and have the unit pass an inspection by the Housing Authority.
Housing unit saves family of five from eviction
“Sabrina” lives with her four children in public housing operated by the Jacksonville Housing Authority. There, the share of the rent she pays can increase or decrease based on household income, with her housing subsidy covering the remainder. Recently, Sabrina received a notice that her lease was being terminated because she’d failed to report some child support income in a timely fashion. She was going to be evicted for this alleged violation of her lease agreement. The notice further alleged that she owed $584 in back rent based upon the unreported child support income.
Client’s move to assisted living eased with JALA’s help
“Eamon,” 72, had been living in a rented home and needed to move to an assisted living facility, as his disability had left him unable to care for himself. He was trying to terminate his lease early, but despite his medical situation his landlord told him he’d have to pay $3,000 to do so. Eamon contacted JALA’s Fair Housing Unit for help.