Ronda was excited to start fresh with her new housing voucher, quickly securing a home for herself and her multiracial children. But the property manager’s attitude shifted when they saw her family. Shortly after, Ronda received a violation notice for her emotional support animal despite providing proper documentation. The manager dismissed her rights, saying, “We don’t do that fair housing stuff,” and fined her $25 daily for the animal.
The situation escalated when vandals targeted her property with racial slurs, and the landlord attempted to revoke her voucher with false accusations. Fearing for her family’s safety, Ronda sought help from Legal Aid. A paralegal fought to protect her housing voucher and arranged to transfer it to a safer location.
With her paralegal’s help, Ronda also filed a Fair Housing complaint, citing discrimination based on race and disability. HUD intervened, and after extensive negotiations, Ronda received $3,750 for lost wages and moving costs. The property manager and owner agreed to undergo fair housing training and revise leases to include protections for reasonable accommodations.
Thanks to Legal Aid’s support, Ronda and her children now live in a safe home, and their fight led to fairer housing practices for others.
