Thanks to Your Support, an Eviction Threat Was Thwarted

After “Lucas” lost his job, he was unable to make ends meet and started to fall behind on rent payments. As a result, his landlord started eviction proceedings, alleging that he owed over $5,000 in back rent. Unsure of how to proceed, Lucas reached out to ALRP for assistance.

Staff Attorney Kai Shintani jumped into action and began advocating for Lucas. Initially, his landlord wanted Lucas to both move out and pay all the alleged back rent. The landlord’s attorney – who is notoriously unreasonable and uncommunicative – dragged the case out until the claimed back rent was around $25,000.

Staff Attorney Kai Shintani

Right before the eviction case went to trial, and only after extensive back and forth, Kai was able to negotiate a settlement agreement in which the landlord waived almost $20,000 in claimed back rent and agreed to provide a neutral reference letter and return Lucas’s security deposit. In addition, Lucas’s housing subsidy provider, Catholic Charities, agreed to pay the remaining back rent. As a result, Lucas was able to walk away with his security deposit and the money he had saved anticipating having to pay back rent, which he is putting toward finding his new home.

Behind every success is a team of dedicated advocates and a larger community of people like you who believe in the rights and dignity of our clients. Happy Thanksgiving!