Advocacy Clinic Monday Night

On Monday night an older woman came in right at seven o'clock, and immediately began talking about her difficulties (I can only remember her last name, so I'll just leave her anonymous). She quickly began telling Paul and I that the town of Newton was corrupt, and was only run by rich white men who only cared about themselves. She also claimed that she had been verbally and physically abused by both the police and other people in her apartment complex. In addition, the woman came in with a police report stating that several formal complaints had been filed against her by one of her neighbors, and that she was to appear in court on thursday. We advised her to ask for a lawyer once she got there (although she claimed that the court had previously denied her one for no reason), but then informed her that we could not really give legal advise because we are not lawyers (which she apparently not aware of, and she reacted angrily). The woman stated that her landlord had broken into her apartment about a year ago and stolen all of her belongings except for her clothes, so we gave her a form on how to file a grievance. But aside from that we could do very little for her except listen.

On a happier note, Junia came in a little before eight, and it appears as though she has found an apartment in Waltham that is in her price range. The problem is, she must pay 2,000 dollars for first and last months rent, and she only has 500 dollars in savings and 300 from her church. In order to raise the remaining 1200 dollars Paul and I drafted an letter to various organizations around Boston to see if any could contribute money to Junia's cause. Hopefully at least a few of them will be willing to give something, and Junia and her three children will be able to move into the new apartment by August 1.