MEETING - Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County

shelter
meeting the need:
• Legal Aid’s HomeSavers project
serves approximately 1600
households per year
• 20 to 30 families are seen
every week at three off-site
housing clinics staffed by Legal
Aid and volunteers
• The HomeSavers Project relies
heavily on volunteers who provide
approximately 35 hours of free
legal services each week
A
few years ago, Tuan, his wife and their children lived in a twobedroom
apartment, working hard every day to pursue their
dreams. But all that changed very quickly when Tuan was in a
serious car accident and suffered a traumatic brain injury. Tuan was no
longer able to work, and although the family had a housing subsidy voucher
that helped cover a portion of the monthly rent, it was not enough. The
family fell behind on their rent, and Tuan’s wife and children left him,
leaving Tuan alone, disabled and unable to pay the rent. Eventually, Tuan’s
landlord threatened to evict him. Tuan was at risk of losing his housing
subsidy voucher because, under the Housing Authority rules, a tenant
cannot keep the voucher if back rent is owed. Fortunately, through Tuan’s
Vietnamese community, Tuan learned about Legal Aid and the housing
clinic held at Fair Oaks Community Center in Redwood City.
With the help of a Legal Aid attorney who is fluent in Vietnamese, Tuan
was able to communicate his needs and the attorney could explain clearly
what was happening at every step of the way. The attorney negotiated
with the landlord to forgive all the back rent in return for Tuan’s departure
by a certain date. Even though Tuan had nowhere to live, his housing
subsidy voucher was saved. However, because of Tuan’s inability to speak
or read English fluently, and because of his mental disability and lack of
income, he had tremendous difficulty finding a new home. Eventually the
Housing Authority advised Tuan the time for him to use the voucher for
new housing had expired and he would no longer receive the housing
subsidy. Once again, Tuan contacted Legal Aid. The attorney intervened
on his behalf and successfully argued that Tuan’s voucher should not
be taken away because the delay in finding housing was caused by his
disability; and therefore, he was entitled to accommodations under the
fair housing laws that protect people with disabilities. The argument was
successful and the Housing Authority extended the time for Tuan to find a
home. On the last day of the extension, Tuan found an apartment to rent,
only to face one more hurdle — Tuan did not have money for the $1200
deposit. Because of a partnership with another community agency in San
Mateo County, Legal Aid was able to help Tuan with the deposit. Tuan
finally received the keys to his new home and is no longer homeless.
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