Story of Justice – CCLA Stops Silvia’s Eviction

Silvia, a low-income senior, unexpectedly lost her job. Although she was looking for a new job, re-entering the workforce proved challenging due to her age and limited resources. She quickly fell behind on rent and returned home one day to find an eviction notice on her front door. Silvia did not understand the eviction process and could not afford to hire an attorney.

Facing the imminent threat of homelessness, she turned to Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida (CCLA) to help her navigate the court process and learn about her legal rights.

CCLA’s Broward Senior Eviction Prevention Program (BSEPP) Attorney reviewed Silvia’s case and immediately identified legal defects in the eviction complaint, including a clear violation of Florida’s Landlord-Tenant Act by the corporate landlord.

CCLA’s Attorney drafted a Motion to Dismiss, highlighting this defect, and filed it with the Court. Filing this Motion gave Silvia the time she needed to secure a new, stable place to live. Despite her landlord already filing an eviction case against her, she still took the time to thoroughly clean the entire apartment, taking pride in leaving her former home spotless.

The judge ultimately ruled in Silvia’s favor and dismissed the eviction case based on the issue CCLA identified. Because the case was dismissed, Silvia avoided having an eviction judgment on her record, an outcome that could have jeopardized her ability to secure housing for years.

Avoiding an eviction judgment also helped protect Silvia’s credit, preserve her rental history, and spared her the stigma and stress that often follow an eviction judgment. Now living in a new apartment, Silvia continues to search for employment with renewed stability, hope, and dignity, grateful for the legal advocacy that helped her move forward.