When a winter storm in January 2024 severely damaged her home, a 64-year-old woman living alone faced grave repair issues. A fallen tree on her roof caused water to leak into her bedroom light fixture, creating a fire hazard that forced her to avoid the room for over a month. Additional dangers included a blocked back door and a broken front screen door. These problems caused her significant distress and prevented her from being able to live in her home without fear for her health and safety.
LADA intervened, contacting her landlord, who was hesitant to address the $5,000 cost of removing the tree. A law clerk in LADA’s Safe Home Happy Life program worked to establish open communication between the tenant and the landlord, who had been at odds for some time. LADA helped ensure the tree was removed, and repairs were completed, including fixing the bedroom, front door, and back door access.
As a result, the client was able to return to her bedroom and no longer lived in constant fear of a fire or unsafe conditions. Beyond these repairs, the process helped rebuild the tenant-landlord relationship. The client expressed gratitude for LADA’s advocacy, which not only improved her living conditions but gave her peace of mind and a sense of control over her home.
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