Jeff was referred to Legal Aid by a community partner. His Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments had been suspended for an unknown reason. While his Legal Aid attorney was investigating his SSI benefits, she learned he also had an issue with his subsidized housing. One of Legal Aid’s housing team attorneys accepted the housing case.…
Steve, his wife, and their children lived in a rented house before the COVID-19 pandemic. When the pandemic hit, Steve and his wife both lost their jobs. Like so many families in this situation, they did their best to keep up. But with no income coming in, they got behind on their rent. Their landlord…
Ms. Hopkins is an 87-year-old woman with health and mobility issues. She called Legal Aid after her monthly mortgage payment increased to a level that she could not afford. Initially, Legal Aid assisted Ms. Hopkins in discovering that her homeowner’s insurance premium had gone up and helped Ms. Hopkins find a better deal. However, after…
Brandi, a 27-year-old mother of two, lived in a Section 8 property. Because Brandi’s only income was Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), her portion of the rent was zero. Brandi’s lease came up for renewal and the Housing Authority of Kansas City conducted an annual housing quality inspection. The property failed due to several…
Charles was interested in rehabbing a debilitated, vacant property in his neighborhood. He was able to locate and contact the property’s owner, and they made an agreement: in exchange for $100 cash, the owner would grant Charles permission to occupy the premises and rehab the property to avert the demolition. The owner also promised Charles…
Anne, who is elderly and in poor health, received a hand-written note from an investment company offering to buy her home. Anne had considered selling her house because of her concern that she may not be able keep up with the maintenance. She called the investment company and scheduled an appointment. The next day, two…
Rick came to Legal Aid seeking help because the home he had recently inherited from his mother was at risk of foreclosure due to unpaid taxes. Rick’s home had been in his family for years and was the home where his mother lived prior to her passing. Rick had spent much of his childhood there…
Toni came to Legal Aid seeking help with a mortgage loan that was at risk of foreclosure. Years ago, Toni and her husband purchased their home together. Shortly before his death, and unbeknownst to Toni, her husband had taken out a mortgage on their home solely in his name. It had been his intention to…
Wilma contacted Legal Aid for assistance regarding her rental home. Her basement flooded, her bedroom ceiling was collapsing due to leaks in the roof, cabinet doors often fell off in the kitchen and hit Wilma in the head, and the windows did not properly seal. Legal Aid contacted Wilma’s landlord and informed him of all…
At the Tenant Legal Help Clinic, a Legal Aid attorney met with Meg, who was being evicted for allegedly not paying her rent. Meg maintained she had in fact paid all her rent, including late fees. The attorney explained to Meg what evidence she would need to submit to the Court in order to win…
