Fighting for what is right...

Ah, if my dreams came true, I would finish school and become an attorney to fight for people who get messed with by large corporations, cops and government agencies that abuse their powers.  Maybe one day I'll be able to pay off those student loans and get back in school...  Until then, I get a satisfaction doing the things I can.

I had to fight my apartment manager this past week.  I have been very ill lately, and have been in the hospital five times in the past few months.  I, obviously, had to have someone stay with my children.  I explained the situation to the manager and leasing agent, who told me, "No problem", they just needed me to bring in letters, showing the dates of my hospitalizations, which I have done.

Well, my apartment has been falling apart, literally.  In February, I had a couple roofers come through my bedroom ceiling at seven a.m., leaving me with a skylight!!!  They finally put a piece of sheetrock up to cover that.  Unfortunately, that's one of the smaller problems.  One of the biggest is the fact that it rains in my living room every time it rains outside.  The weird part is, we haven't found any leaks upstairs, but it pours so bad through the downstairs living room that I have to have several large pans, and empty them every few minutes.  We have, also, been finding mold in several other places in the apartment.  I came home from the hospital a few weeks ago, and my entire carpet was soaked to the point of splashing on my ankles!  I ended up with strep throat after that, and all of us have had respiratory problems, and weird symptoms, such as nausea and fatigue, pretty much since we moved into this building almost two years ago.

Anyway, after our last flood, I, again, reminded the apartment manager of the problem, with it raining in the living room.  I first had maintenance come out and see it pouring back in April of this year, and nothing has been done.  Every time I mention it, however, the manager gets mad.  The day after I reported it this time, I found a note on my door saying that if I don't add the friend who watches my children to my lease, and pay for the background check by Friday, she would give me a ten to fifteen day eviction notice.  I got so stressed out, I couldn't function.  First off, she has no proof of him ever being over here...  she didn't even recognize him when he went in to pick up the application!  Second, she knows I'm disabled, and I explained to her that I wouldn't have money for the background check until the first...  she didn't care.

The good thing is:  I receive housing assistance, so the apartment is bound by law, as well as their contract with housing, to keep the apartments up to certain standards.  I went in and spoke with my housing caseworker, who was wonderful, and she gave me a paper to fill out, a "Notice to vacate", explaining to me that I did not have to stay until my lease is up (in Feb), as I've been here for two years, and they are not holding up their end up the bargain, in keeping my apartment liveable.  I, also, got a letter from my doctor, stating that I need someone to stay with me, due to my health problems.  I took these papers to the apartment manager, and she was just horrible...  threatening to move up the eviction!  I handed her the Notice to Vacate, and she got even angrier.  So at that point, I pulled out the pictures...  my ceiling bulging to the point where it looks like it could collapse at any moment, the cupboards rotting and coming apart, and then I saved the best for last...  my boxes of asthma medication, that are delivered by FedEx every month, were pried out from under the downstairs bathroom sink, and the boxes are completely stuck together...  with MOLD!!!

Ok, so the notice to vacate gives the apartment sixty days notice...  well, when she saw the pictures, she said I, "could go ahead and move", and changed it to thirty days...  BUT...  I still had to come up with the money to run all the checks on James.  I explained to her, again, that I wouldn't have any money until the first, and that I was going back into the hospital that very day.  She, hatefully, explained that she would just evict me then.  Well, there was nothing that I could do at that point.  I was ill, and the doctor had already preadmitted me into the hospital.  I got home on my birthday, the 29th, and was stressing so badly, trying to figure out how to come up with the money by the next day.  Luckily, when I get stressed over someone in a position of power just treating me, or anyone else, wrong, I get busy.  I got online, and tracked down the name of the management company that runs this complex, as well as several others.  I got ahold of the main lady, the big boss.  Fortunately, I had met her when the new company took over these apartments last year, and she remembered me and my bulging ceilings! lol  I explained the situation to her, letting her know that, not only am I already suffering from many health problems, but this stress of being harassed was pushing me over the edge emotionally.  I explained to her that I plan to move Nov. 1, as agreed, and just let her know exactly how I was being treated.

Well, the big boss overrode the apartment manager's demands, and told me not to worry about a thing, and that she will ensure that they will not be the cause of any more of my stress!  Oh, what a feeling! lol  I have a feeling there will be some management changes coming up VERY soon.

As stressed as I have been, this was not only a huge weight off my shoulders, but it also reminded me that I am a strong woman, and that I do have a right to stand up for myself...  that others don't have the right to take advantage of me because I'm ill, or because I don't have much money.  I started feeling so much better, both physically and emotionally.

I, now, have to find a place to go by November first, but I am actually very excited.  This entire complex has been nothing but stressful and depressing, and we are all looking forward to getting into a new place.  I told my sixteen year old son that this is one lesson I hope he learns from me, that you can stand up for yourself, no matter who is causing the problems, and no matter how much power they believe they have...  just to always do it in the right way...  that you have the best chance of getting what you need accomplished by doing things legally, and just not backing down.

Anyway, I have a renewed sense of accomplishment, due to all these events, and just wanted to share!!! 

Would love to hear if any of you have had to stand up to someone in a more powerful position, and what works for you, or even what doesn't work!  Maybe we can give some inspiration to someone who needs it!


P.S.  Attached photo is of my boxes of asthma medication, stuck together with mold!  Is that irony, or what?!!!