News Story (California)
Kriston Capps
CityLab
April 5, 2017
READ THE FULL STORY HERE
Tags: Deportation, Housing: Eviction, Housing: Landlord-Tenant
Organizations mentioned/involved: Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (California), Western Center on Law & Poverty (WCLP) (CA), National Housing Law Project
DETAILS
Shirley Gibson’s client was in jeopardy. A mother of three living in San Mateo County in California, the woman had obtained a restraining order against her children’s father for domestic abuse. Her landlord took the opportunity to demand that she sign a new, higher lease. She pleaded with him to let her take the document to an attorney.
“Legally, a victim of domestic violence isn’t required to agree to new lease terms or agree to pay more rent, just because they’re a victim,” says Gibson, directing attorney for the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County.
The landlord wasn’t having it. Gibson says that he made a clear threat: If you don’t sign this right now, I’m going to call immigration, and you will be taken to Mexico, away from your children.