A documentary-style photo of a senior woman with gray hair and glasses, seated in a softly lit room and using a computer. She is focused, looking down at the screen. The image is intended to represent a tenant facing eviction and is not an actual photo of the individual in the case story.

Prevented Tenant’s Eviction by Identifying Errors in City’s Denial of Eviction Prevention Program Funds

What Happened

We heard from Amelia, a senior trans woman with a disability facing eviction due to rental arrears that built up during an unexpected disruption in her income. Amelia rents a condo conveniently located close to her health care providers and a food bank that she uses daily. Amelia applied for a one-time grant from the City’s Eviction Prevention in the Community (EPIC) Program to pay off the arrears but was denied. Dissatisfied with the handling of her funding request, Amelia contacted us. 

What We Did

We identified several fairness and right-to-housing concerns with how the EPIC Program handled Amelia’s funding request. For example, decisions were not well-reasoned or sufficiently explained. After we brought these concerns to the City, EPIC agreed to reassess her request for financial support.

The Result

EPIC approved Amelia’s funding request, agreeing to pay off the full amount of her arrears so that she will no longer be at risk for eviction.

Why This Matters

Stable and secure housing is essential for vulnerable tenants. By ensuring a fair review of Amelia’s funding request, we helped her access the financial support she needed to preserve her housing and all the benefits that come with it: affordability, accessibility, and proximity to essential services that meet her daily needs.

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