Marilyn UPDATE

Hello again,

I have just returned from Marilyn's apartment.

I think some progress has been made. Marilyn seems 75% sure she is staying where she is, which I completely agree with for now.

In visiting the apartment, I was pleasantly surprised. I was expecting absolute awful conditions, but the place was well kept and all the problems had been fixed. I mentioned the rodent problem we had advised Lupo of last week. Apparently, this is not a problem. Her mom and sister misinformed us. As soon as I got back to the office, I called Lupo's assistant to tell them of the miscommunication.

Marilyn has an appointment for an apartment which she is still going to tomorrow. If it is perfect, she will take it. I guess we can continue our housing search for Marilyn, but seeing as moving is not an emergency (she is protected in her lease until end of December if we revoke notice to quit) she seems ok for now.

She explained that she didn't want to leave Waltham because it is her support system. She could find the perfect place in Boston, but she would have difficulty with transportation, getting someone to babysit her children (who are all beautiful!). It makes sense. But for now, she is safe, has the support of WATCH and the Housing Authority who will be on Lupo's case the first second anything goes wrong.

I think staying is the right decision for now. She has a lot of stuff she will have to move, and it seems like there is no perfect place for her to go to for now. Marilyn lives on Dartmouth, and as a Brandeis student you probably have passed her house one thousand times. I have spoken to her case worker from the Boston Housing Authority and she also told me that Marilyn only has to give her landlord a 30 day notice to leave (although Lupo requests 60). So we can keep the search up - if any one us find a perfect place with utilities included, we can contact Marilyn, get her to see the place, and go through this process....but until then, I think she should revoke the notice to quit.

If you ever have time and want to do a craigslist search, see if there is anything. 1700 for 3 bedrooms in Waltham. If so, maybe pursue it and see if it is available. Then we can have a discussion with Marilyn.

Marilyn will NOT be coming in tonight as there is not a need. She will be in on Monday as she is going to fill out a public housing application - she is a low priority but for the long term it may be a good idea. She will require assistance filling it out.

:)

Robyn