I am in desperate need of your help, today, I’m being evicted, actually going to be locked out this week, after living in my apartment for almost five years.
I have never in my life experienced anything like this. I had court on the 18th of November, and sadly today I’m learning what actually took place that day. A misunderstanding is putting it lightly. I live in Texas, and I have been struggling since the start of COVID like so many others. Last year, I found out I was sick and wasn’t able to work. Since then it’s been more difficult than I could have ever imagined. In Texas, there is rental assistance for those in need, and I’ve contacted every single one. But it’s a system that needs to be fixed, so frustrating for me as a Human Resources person. I respect policies, in fact, I recommend following them.
But, they need to make sense if you’re in the business of helping others, don’t be fooled by the perception that it’s good or functioning well, just because people are reaching out for help.
How it works here is, you can request financial assistance 1 time per year, and you cannot combine services, so that means if you get utility assistance you cannot request rental assistance. It also has a catch, most will give a maximum of $700 towards rent, however, you must first pay all that’s behind, minus the amount they’re willing to pledge, show proof, and then they’ll send it to your property owner if you’re a renter. Another catch, most owners will not take any partial payments, even if a charity doesn’t require you to pay what’s behind minus their contribution, which is great, what’s not great is you lose that opportunity when your owners state sorry full payment only. So…here I am caught in a policy cycle that doesn’t help when they won’t cooperate knowing full well on all sides you’re requesting financial assistance. Then evictions, Texas Supreme Court ordered if a property is taking part in their County’s rental assistance program, they must give the tenant an additional 60 days grace to allow them to process applications. Both parties must be taking part in the program to qualify, and meet deadlines. I followed all of those recommendations, I get to court, on the 18th of November and the judge stated he’ll allow until 6 December for the application processing, at that time the acting representative for the property stated they were not taking part in the program. As they have new owners as of last year, I clarified it lists the new owners, despite not even being aware of that fact. I told the judge they are, and I have it in writing, and the law is if they are and a tenant applies they must follow the Supreme Court’s orders, to not evict me, not to deny any financial assistance, and not to add any late fees. None of those rules were followed, the judge stated he highly recommended they comply with that order. And said, okay, be sure to communicate with them and let them know the status of your application and or funds coming their way, as I continue to find work, of course, I agreed. I had no idea, that meant if the unpaid back rent now over $9,000 isn’t paid by then I’ll be locked out. I’ve spoken to them & nobody told me a thing, being proactive after court I asked legal aid do I need to do anything. The answer was no, just communicate to let the property know the status. What isn’t written anywhere is the property owners can change their minds and the tenant is on their own, so where’s the protection? I’m terrified, I have no support, nowhere to go, no family, and no friends here, I am essentially alone in a city that I originally came to for work. Then COVID happened, I can’t even get food stamps for more than 3 months if your able to work, which I am. But cannot land a job, I’ve applied to more than 200 jobs, had many interviews, and still nothing. To top it all off my car was recently repossessed. I haven’t met some of my new grandkids because I’ve not had any money to travel, and I can’t go get my special needs son who has (cerebral palsy) in Idaho, I haven’t even seen him since before COVID. He needs me desperately, the assisted living program he’s in, is falling apart and it’s costing him his safety, both emotionally and physically. He’s no longer being cared for the way he was & he’s scared and misses me. My heart is breaking. He wants to come here but my life’s fallen apart. He doesn’t understand why I haven’t come to get him already. This was hard, putting my crisis and life’s story out here, but sometimes we have to suck it up and ask for help, sometimes the people we’ve never met are the ones who we need the most. So I’m putting my trust in God, to hear my prayers and grant me a miracle which I desperately need more than I’ve ever needed before. I want to thank you for reading my story and know that it means a lot to me. I sincerely appreciate anything you can help with. I also believe in angels and we don’t always see them but they are there, I also believe in paying it forward which I’ve done, and will continue to do. www.gofundme.com
