I am hoping some Kossack with legal skills in the Los Angeles area might be able to help with a severe problem. An aging and disabled duo are being systematically harassed by a landlord who is trying to force them out of their rent controlled home of ten years in order to raise the price to market rates.
The two people live in a tiny back house in San Pedro. Joanne is a former piano teacher who lost her ability to work after a car accident that left her only able to walk a few feet at a time - she spends most of her time bedridden and has not left the house in months. She uses an electric wheelchair when she does leave the house, and her roommate is not strong enough to move it down the steps. Ernie, a Merchant Marine veteran, has heart problems and can't work either. Both are in their 60's and have been saved from homelessness by disability payments and Section Eight vouchers.
About eight months ago their rent-controlled property was bought by a landlord who first tried to get them to sign a new lease without rent control protections, and when they would not, started harassing them. She has visited unannounced multiple times in the same week, claiming she needed entry to the apartment to make repairs that they have not requested. Her latest such demand is that she needs to come in for four hours to caulk their kitchen sink, which doesn't need it. Each time she gains entry, by whatever pretext, she badgers them with questions whether they are really disabled. She has removed their security locks and deadbolts because she doesn't have keys to them, and has been seen peering into windows, apparently to see if Joanne can walk when nobody is looking. They are both frail and the high-stress situation is taking a toll on their health.
They have requested that all communications be in writing and that the landlord stop harassing them with phone calls - she has ignored the request and signs posting "No Trespassing." My friend has tried to get a restraining order but local attorneys want $1500 to do that, and it would require the tenants to go to court. As they have no car, there is no bus service nearby, she can't leave the house without assistance, and they don't have $1500, they can't do this. They have appealed to the church she used to attend, which sends someone out once a week to cheer her up and pray with her, but has provided no actual support.
They are good people but not incredibly savvy about legal issues - Is there anybody out there who might be willing to help pro bono, either by assisting with a restraining order or helping them find whatever social agencies may be able to help? I don't have any experience in this and have work commitments that mean I can't spend lots of time on the phone when social service agencies are open.
Please send a message if you may be able to assist, or have any ideas about who might be able to help in this area. I don't think they would survive long on the street, and that's where the landlord is trying to put them.
Thank you,
PoliticallyNonEucliudean