30-year Tenants Avoid Eviction Thanks to the Elder/YAD and Housing Teams’ Collaboration

Through the collaborative efforts of the APILO’s Elder/Young Adults with Disabilities (YAD) team and the Housing team successfully prevented the eviction of a senior couple who have called their unit a home for over three decades.

This case highlights the critical importance of protecting our senior population from unjust evictions. For many seniors, their home is not just a place to live—it’s where they have taken root and created a lot of good memories.

The eviction notice, served to the couple after 30 years of tenancy, alleged that they had physically and verbally assaulted other tenants in the building. Facing the loss of their long-time home, the seniors turned to API Legal Outreach for help.

Recognizing the complexity of the case, the Elder/YAD and Housing project joined forces to discuss strategy and legal approach. This collaborative approach allowed both teams to address both the legal intricacies of housing law and the unique needs of elderly clients.

The Elder/YAD and housing teams’ strategy centered on a getting the facts straight. The Elder/YAD and Housing team issued extensive discovery requests to the landlord, seeking detailed information about the alleged incidents. The main goal was to get the facts as the legal team needed to understand every aspect of the landlords’ claims to build the strongest possible defense for the senior clients.

After carefully analyzing the landlord’s responses, the team used this information to craft a compelling negotiation strategy. The teams’ efforts culminated in a settlement agreement that allows the elderly couple to remain in their home while addressing the landlords’ concerns.

The success of this case serves as a powerful reminder of the impact that dedicated legal advocacy can have on preserving community stability and protecting vulnerable populations.

As the senior couple settles back into their home of 30 years, free from the threat of eviction, the Elder/YAD and Housing teams continue their endeavor to ensure justice and housing security especially for the elderly community.

About the APILO’s Elder and Disability Rights Project:

APILO’s Elder and Disability Rights Project provides legal services in a variety of areas to assist elders and individuals with disabilities to receive public benefits and live a life free from abuse. The Elder Team works to both to prevent abuse towards elders and people with disabilities and to assist survivors of abuse. We work closely with senior centers, churches, and senior meal sites to keep our services accessible. With a team of exemplary attorneys and dedicated staff, the team provides a wide range of legal services, including naturalization assistance, other immigration cases, elder abuse, estate planning, eviction defense, conservatorship, guardianship, and restraining orders to name a few.

If you want to learn more about what our team does, please feel free to reach out to us.