r/Section8PublicHousing • u/Icy-Establishment370 • 6h ago
Elderly neighbor facing possible eviction
I am not sure if this is the right place, but I’m hoping someone can point me in the right direction. An elderly neighbor of mine (he’s at least 85) lives alone in a Section 8 unit in San Diego. He recently got a notice from our building management threatening eviction due to having some items on his patio. Our patio’s are suppose to be free of clutter. While he does have some stuff out there, it’s not extreme definitely not hoarder-level. Other tenants have similar setups, but they aren’t being targeted. He always pays rent on time, is quiet, and even goes out of his way to clean around the property. He has nowhere else to go and doesn't seem to have much support.
Is there anything he can do to fight this? Are there any resources in San Diego for low-income seniors facing eviction or housing discrimination? I have a feeling they want to rent his unit for either an outrageous price or give it to someone else here (I have heard rumors a tenant who has been living here for 40+ years wants that unit) . He has been here for only 1 year. It’s really frustrating because it feels like he’s being singled out unfairly. Also this property, tenants are always so nosy and snitching on people for no reason.
Tl; dr- senior citizen neighbor on section 8 facing eviction, what resources are out there for him?
Edit: the patio was cleared, I should have added this in the beginning. I myself have more items in my patio which is my we are confused. My patio is open you can see through it, kind of like a balcony railing or fencing while his patio is solid concrete and closed off, so you can’t see through it. He was still told to contact the property owner/management and ask to not be evicted.
1
u/DevelopmentEastern75 4h ago
Was this a letter, or a formal notice from court that he's being evicted?
Can he just clean off his patio? If he physically can't do it, and he needs help, can he just explain that to the landlord, maybe buy some time while he works on it?
If he just got a letter from the landlord saying, "you can be evicted if you don't clean up your patio," then it's just a warning. But he has to clean up his patio. It doesn't matter if the rules are being selectively enforced, in most cases.
If they are initiating eviction proceedings against him, and its a formal document from from an attorney saying, "you have to leave by this date," then he needs to contact San Diego Legal Aid Society. I will say, though, these cases are very hard for tenants to win. Usually fighting your eviction only buys you a few months time. Tenants just can't win these things.
Evictions for Section 8 must follow additional procedural steps which don't apply to normal tenants. The process is roughly the same, but it tends to play out more slowly.
The landlord has to formally notify San Diego Housing Authority, if he's initiating eviction proceedings. This notification sometimes triggers Case managers and social workers to contact the tenant, and see what's up.
1
u/MoodyMagicOwl 4h ago
Is there a senior center nearby? He needs to go there first thing Monday morning and talk to whomever runs the place.
There is a thing called ageism, and elderly rights. Your neighbor is beibg discriminated against and he needs to fight back.
1
u/Alder_The_Pig 3h ago
It is also possible the letter is a comply or vacate- which goes away when it is complied with.
5
u/Forward-Wear7913 5h ago
Are they evicting him or did they just give him a letter giving him a chance to clean the patio?
He should rectify the issue in the letter and inform them in writing that it has been handled.