Story of Justice: Helping John & his Dog Maintain Housing

John had a rough year.

First, his wife died.

Then, he was evicted.

John cannot read or write. He receives Section 8 housing assistance. The Housing Authority knows he cannot read or write. Yet, they did not explain paperwork to him, despite KNOWING that he cannot read or write. As a result of the confusion with the paperwork about how much his portion of the rent was, he was evicted.

When we met John, he was staying with friends some nights and sleeping on a bench in a park on other nights. What hurt him the most was that he had to leave his pet dog with friends and couldn’t take care of him. He missed his beloved companion.

He was also at risk of losing his Section 8 Voucher due to the eviction.

CCLA Attorney’s advised John on how to address the situation with the Housing Authority and obtain a new Section 8 Voucher to move with. The Housing Authority granted John’s request and he secured a new Section 8 Voucher, providing him with the opportunity to relocate to stable housing. However, financial barriers remained, as John lacked the funds necessary for a security deposit.

Recognizing the critical need to bridge the financial gap, CCLA utilized the resources available through the Jim Moran Foundation Grant to cover John’s security deposit. This crucial assistance paved the way for John to move into his new home, enabling him to regain stability and reunite with his beloved dog.

Within moments of moving into his new home, John excitedly reached out to CCLA to express his profound gratitude. John said he was glad to be out of living in the park and have a roof over his head, but what made him happiest was reconnecting with his dog. John explained how excited his dog was that they were reunited! We love a happy ending!