Marilyn

Hello everyone,

In have spoken with Professor Goldin, I am writing to update you on Marilyn.

I have asked Marilyn to come in again to the clinic tonight. This is an overview of the situation and the options we have moving forward.

Situation: Marilyn has lived in the Lupo apartment for three years. She wants to leave as in the past he has cut off her heat illegally, and she has three children. On June 17, we provided Lupo with a 60 day notice to leave. The problem is - Marilyn cannot find another apartment. She is on the Boston Housing Authority Section 8 housing, and she is unable to pay fees up front until an inspection has passed. Therefore, she can find an apartment and get all the applications filled out, but the BHA must still approve the place. The process takes a couple of weeks, which is why we wrote her the 60 day notice. Because the voucher is from the BHA, they will not provide her a last month's rent or security deposit, only first month's rent. Waltham landlords are not really willing to only accept a first month's rent. She has the money for a security deposit now, but is not successful in finding a three bedroom for $1700. Advocates have searched for her every week. In some cases, we feel it may be discrimination. In other cases, the utilities are not included. This is a requirement of the subsidy. If they are not included, the BHA may only be able to cover some of the costs - but this is not guaranteed. One apartment which she wants to apply for just had the move in date changed from September 1 to November 1 - too late for Marilyn. She has an appointment for an apartment viewing on Friday at 5:30. It is 1500 not including utilities. The man is only willing for her to move in August 1, which may work out...but she may not love the apartment. This may be the best shot right now.

If this one on Friday does not work out, I fear that she won't be able to find another place in time for a September 1 move in date. Sandra Redish (her worker at the BHA) has worked with her for over a year to find housing in WALTHAM. She has been unsuccessful. If she can't find a place to move in to for September 1, Lupo will find someone else to move in. I have reasoned with Crystal (Lupo's assistant) to not begin advertising the apartment until next week, just in case we can convince Marilyn to stay where she is. Otherwise, they will begin advertising for a September 1 move in. Her lease is good until December 31st, but not if she does not revoke the notice to leave. I told her that if she decides to stay, we will constantly be able to help notify Lupo of the problems. If the heat is turned off as it has been in the past, the BHA reacts immediately. The exterminator is coming in soon to deal with the rodent problem which we notified them of last week. The BHA knows of it, and will send an exterminator in if Lupo fails to deal with the situation properly. Crystal's belief is that Marilyn constantly finds something to complain about. In one case, a light which had fallen (according to Marilyn) was found hiding in the apartment (according to Crystal).

I am going to visit her apartment within the next hour to take pictures and see for myself what its like. From there, there are three options.

1. Stay in the apartment - we will then need to revoke the 60 day notice to leave. They will accept this next week if she decides to do this.

2. Move out of the apartment beyond Waltham - she is not willing to leave Waltham. She has a very important support at the Waltham Family School and I fear that if she leaves, she will be unhappy. The thing is, she will be able to get an apartment outside of Waltham. The Boston Housing Authority has places they work with to ensure their Section 8 clients are taken care of. Marilyn is just not willing to leave...

3. Keep the search on - either hope the place on Friday works out, or we continue to search. We would then need to provide Lupo with another 30 day notice allowing her to stay in the apartment until September 1. I fear that if she can't find a place by September 1 and Lupo finds other tenants to move in, he will bring her to court. I don't think this will be good at all for her.

So...based on what I see when I visit, we should try to provide her with some guidance tonight. I have spoken with her on the phone and in person many times and hoping that YOU CAN all help. Maybe hearing her options from someone else. Maybe one of you can help her do another search on craigslist. I am hoping that we can all work together to help her through this.

See you all tonight.

Robyn