Voices Of Eviction
The start…
“Where you staying?” older adult asked the young adult who is looking unconcerned/blank stare … “in my car, in a hotel, I am alright,”
Translation by older adult “in my car and on the street.”
“By and large, the poor do not want some small life. They don’t want to game the system or eke out an existence; they want to thrive and contribute.” ― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Doctor office…
Primary doctor office for a follow-up appointment and talking to medical assistant about the daily news; hungry, homeless, layoffs, fired human beings.
“My relative lived in a house for 4 years with a lease agreement. Moved from a 1 bedroom apartment to a 3 bedroom 2 bathroom house over a weekend to be kinship guardian of his little great niece and great nephew with help of adult daughter. Their mom loss custody of them and got them back after a couple years.
After 2 years, stayed couple more years and relative's adult children moved in so to help them all to get on their life’s trek. (Get their crap/act/life together…)
After 4-year lease, relative went month to month. This would be for at least three months, they thought. But, as soon as the month April 2022 came for month to month start and while living in the house an eviction notice came too. They had a month to get out!”
Never late, good tenant…. Leaser said get out! After some research found out this same leasing company sent evictions notices to several people renting houses from the company. Company wanted to sell these houses, forget about the renters.
Medical assistant says she had two weeks eviction notice to get out of her condo she was renting. The man who owned the property had died. His girlfriend was running things she thought and continued to collect rent.
But, the man NEVER divorced his wife!
So, the wife had all the rights and sold the property and renters had to get out. She did not care about the renters at the property but to sell it. Again, forget about the people.
Medical assistant says she sent her children to stay with a relative and she stayed all day in her car. What she did not say but I already felt by her hesitant reply, she spent the night in her car too….How many nights? I thought to myself.
Medical assistant daughter had only one week when evicted from her apartment….yes, current on rent too.
“No moral code or ethical principle, no piece of scripture or holy teaching, can be summoned to defend what we have allowed our country to become.” ― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
I remember…
(2/15/2021 Monday Icestorm my story, Lewisville, Texas…and the pipes in the attic of my building bursts causing collapsing roofs/ceilings/shredded & wet insulation and releasing bad air.)
3/4/2021…Letter I wrote from hotel room to my old church in Memphis, Tennessee follows:
“I would like to ask for continued prayers for Texas.
The ice storm starting week of 2/15/2021 had me sleeping in a 33 degree apartment without electricity since 7:30am and 38% cell charge that Monday night which reached 18%. Not able to use CPAP, no electricity and good God kept me woke and walking around in the dark or I would have froze to death. I had made my peace with God.
All bridges, skyways, froze over and closed down. My brother’s family 45 miles away was iced in literally in Fort Worth, Texas with no electricity.
My cousin, Torsha called and told me to charge my cell in my car in the garage and get warm in the car. I told her I can not see to walk down 15 steps to get to the garage and do not want to chance falling because no help will be coming, everything/everyone froze in.
Torsha contacted my sister, Daisy in Austin who had her oldest son Cameron to get me Tuesday, 2/16/2021, I trailed him in his tire tracks in the ice (he had recently moved from Chicago to Dallas and use to driving in icy conditions) and took me to his apartment till Thursday when his water went out.
(The water at my apartment was out also.)
“We got to find a hotel because you cannot be without your CPAP auntie!”
We got in his car in the cold icy weather and streets. We drove slowly, slipping along the way when hit black ice on the street. We found a hotel and then I remembered, I get points if I stay at a Choice hotel and there was a Comfort Suites in view.
This hotel was in The Colony, Texas. We park and get out of the car and walk toward the hotel. Nephew says, “the note says no rooms left.” I say, “well we will ask about a sister hotel with available rooms then.”
I have an app on my cell for the hotel and was going to get credits. The front desk and manager both were at the front desk. I said, “ I need a room and the sign says ya’ll have no rooms.”
The manager said, “we have 3 rooms available.” She told the front desk guy to take the taped sign off the door. I said, “let me bring up the app and book it on my cell” but I could not remember the password. The manager says, “I would suggest you book the room before they go.” One person had just made a reservation over the phone with the front desk guy while we were talking. I give nephew my id and credit card and tell him I got to go to the restroom so he can take care of booking the room.
After, I get back to the counter, nephew says, I got you booked for 3 nights. I looked at him calmly while having a flashback of being in that apartment freezing, freezing, freezing, no light, no heat, preparing to meet my God and said,” I need the room for 3 weeks or however long I can get it.” I got evicted from the apartment and cannot live there anymore.
The front desk guy says, “you can come back and extend after the 3 days.
I say, DO YOU UNDERSTAND, I am on a cpap machine and can die from a heart attack or stroke and I do not want this to happen to me. The manager comes from her office behind the front desk area and says, “give her a room for however long she needs.” Nephew gives me my id and credit card back cause he has to go to the restroom now.
The news talked of Rolling Electricity or Power Outages it was called but the electricity stayed off the entire time at my apartment complex on 2/15/2021.
On 2/16/2021, The LAkepointe Residence Apartment office called and emailed me to evacuate my residence due to broken pipes in the attic of my apartment building and collapsing roofs. (I found out later…no cell charge…)
I went to the garage the morning of 2/16/2021 to charge my cell in the car. The car charger would not work because I had got a new cell months prior and never thought I would need another car charger until this icestorm. Thank God, I did not try to walk down 15 steps at night of 2/15/2021.
I was at the Target shopping center I had walked to that morning where the nice clerk let me charge my mobile phone which took hours because they were on a generator in the store. So many people came in the store looking for milk and diapers for their babies. Bread, peanut butter, food, blankets. The store was scarce. I thought I would be in my apartment another night so I bought candles, blankets, food, knowing I would not make it this time.
I walked back to my apartment and saw all the neighbors standing outside in the icy cold. My next-door neighbor asked, if I had water and I said “2 cases.” He says, “No” and points to his garage where a river stream of water was coming from each crease in the garage ceiling. Then he points to the garage door where I look in to find the ceiling had fallen onto the staircase leading up to the living quarters upstairs. Red and white insulation had fallen out of the ceiling. Looked like a caved in sink hole swallowed the staircase and ceiling. Neighbor says office called and said evacuate the apartments. I dread to go to my apartment next door in the same building and said a prayer.
As I walk to my apartment the man in the next building to mine, Building 24 was standing outside his SUV and his wife sitting in the SUV. I asked if his roof fell in too! He showed the video of the water running from his ceiling and flooding the living room floor and yellow and white insulation on the stairs.
I have been in the hotel since 2/18/2021 waiting on the insurance adjuster who is dragging his feet. Say a prayer he will do his work on my claim.
This complex did not give any notification of where to go or anything. They have a newer complex but did not tell anyone to go there. Lack of caring and greed.
I asked for a voucher for a hotel, none was given. They said people stayed with family or found hotel. I said, “what if you do not have family or a hotel.”
Pray for neighbor in building 11, Elaine who’s grandson knew something was wrong when his grandmother did not answer the phone when he called and she always answers. After no answer he went to her apartment and found his 75 year old grandmother sitting in a chair in the freezing apartment in 4 inches of water preparing to die. He took his grandmother home with him. Note: check on your elders and family and friends who live alone they may need your help and you may be saving their life.
I would have froze to death Tuesday night when the drop in temp happened but God had other plans and had my nephew pick up his aunt.
I was to have an inspection of my apartment on 2/23/2021 and management stated they were on there way and then called they might not be there because they still inspecting other apartments and then called again to say they were on there way.
IF they showed up at the apartment or not I was taken to the Emergency Room by ambulance because I had a severe asthma attack triggered by the smells in the apartment and told to stay out of the apartment by the paramedic, Emergency Room doctor.
So I got a termination lease form signed by the office on 3/2/2021 only after I wrote the business manager in the Tipton Group corporate office. Now I can look for a safer apartment. Please pray about this also.
Please pray for Guthrie family because we lost my first cousin Zack Guthrie (3rd relative to die) to Covid19 on yesterday, 3/2/2021 and I found out 3/3/2021. He was a gentle giant. He was in his late sixties and a good husband, brother, cousin, friend.
I have had several relatives with covid19 who have recovered by God’s grace, Thank God!
It is good to be back in DFW, Tx so I am able to be closer to my family. It is not boring, like the weather, always changing here in Texas.
Oh, lest I forget my eye has an issue now from the exposure to the apartment on 2/23/2021 too. My health, my life, Thank you ahead of times for the prayers.
Thanks for your time in listening to me and keep me and mine in your prayers.
In Christian Love, Sis Crystal Guthrie”
Mr. Holmes, (The lawyer)
“I would appreciate a free consultation to discuss my issues/concerns with you about LAKEPOINTE Residence Apartments.
1. February 2021 Rent/ return unearned by apartment 2. Deposit (entire) 3. Paramedics on 2/23/2021 took me to ER at Medical City Lewisville- Acute Allergic Reaction(severe Ashtma attack) in #23C while waiting on manager Brandy D. to come to inspect residence — inhaler script hospital 4. Dermatology Dr — 2/26/2021 — Right Eye Infection — oral antibiotics & eye ointment 5. Doctor appointment — primary on 3/23/2021, eye infection moved to left eye — antibiotic eye drops presently 6. Emergency room; Hospital/doctor bills, paramedics, radiology bill 7. Previous issues that were never addressed- a. Riser Room loud noise like street sledgehammer 6- or 7-times day or night, b. Bedroom over garage of neighbor with gas seeping in the closet/room, cannot sleep in bedroom
My neighbor friend Durrell (11A) highly recommended you sir. Durrell let me know you will help me or not and will let me know.
Thanks for your time in this matter.”
Mr. Spinuzzi, (Paramedics)
“I received emergency medical services from professional and kind Paramedic, Mike Farley and crew at 2025 Lakepointe Dr, #23C, Lewisville, Tx 75057 on 2/23/2021.
Lakepointe Residence Apartments my building was affected by the icestorm week on 2/15/2021 and the pipes in the attic of my building collapsed causing collapsing roofs and releasing bad air.
I was in #23C to meet the apartment manager for an inspection of #23C. My doctor’s office called me to remind me of an appointment the next day Wednesday. The receptionist tech says, “you do not sound good, hold on” a second and now the Medical assistant was talking to me on the phone. “You sound bad” she says. “I feel bad, and my throat is closing up and my head is hurting” and she said, ” I am calling 911 NOW.” 911 was called by my doctor’s office for me. There are 15 steps up once you open the door to the apartment and I figured I would wait for the paramedics downstairs. I made it to the steps at the top where the living area is located and collapsed. When the paramedics got there a man called up to me. “Do you hear me?” I could not answer at first. I mumbled, “ yes”. He said, “ mam can you walk?” I said, “ I do not know.” HE says, “ do not move I will walk up the stairs to you.” I quietly said, I was going to meet you downstairs. The paramedic said, “ my name is Mike and I am glad you did not go downstairs because we may have had another problem.” He helped me stand up and told me to hold on the railing and was a 1 step in front of me as I stepped down the 15 steps to the bottom floor. He said, “ get on the stretcher “ I said, “ I need to lock my apartment.” He said, “ get on the stretcher,” I said,” I need to lock my apartment.” He said, “ I will lock your apartment please get on the stretcher”. As I am being carried away on the stretcher, I hear, “Mz Crystal” called out and Mr Artie, the nice maintenance man looks at me very concerned and I say, “ I am sick and do not feel good” as I am put in the ambulance.
Paramedics ask if I have migraine? My blood pressure of 192/100 and nauseated and about to black out and yes migraine. “Get her to the hospital!” I hear them say.
Medical City Lewisville Emergency doctors diagnosed me with acute allergic reaction/severe Asthma attack and migraine, blood pressure of 192/100 shortness of breath. I was in ER for over 6 hours.
New Data Shows Who, Exactly, Got Evicted the Most During the Pandemic — Mother Jones
Mz. N tells me…
“My 89-year-old senior citizen, Mz N says a lady at her church stayed in her car for a whole year on the Walmart parking lot along with others. She never let anyone know.”
Mz N, says “Oh my , Oh my Lord! All those people “…. “What people?” I asked, I hear the echo of her TV playing in the background. The news is showing people living in the woods.
Homeless Camps Swelling — Recession — Learn About the History of Recessions story by Megan Lee and scenarios follow:
Nashville is one of several U.S. cities that these days are accommodating the homeless and their encampments, instead of dispersing them. With local shelters at capacity, “there is no place to put them,” said Clifton Harris, director of Nashville’s Metropolitan Homeless Commission, says of tent-city dwellers.
In Florida, Hillsborough County plans to consider a proposal Tuesday by Catholic Charities to run an emergency tent city in Tampa for more than 200 people. Dave Rogoff, the county health and services director, said he preferred to see a “hard roof over people’s heads.” But that takes real money, he said: “We’re trying to cut $110 million out of next year’s budget.”
Ontario, a city of 175,000 residents about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, provides guards and basic city services for a tent city on public land.
A church in Lacey, Wash., near the state capital of Olympia, recently started a homeless camp in its parking lot after the city changed local ordinances to permit it. The City Council in Ventura, Calif., last month revised its laws to permit sleeping in cars overnight in some areas. City Manager Rick Cole said most of the car campers are temporarily unemployed, “and in this economy, temporary can go on a long time.”
After years of enforcing a tough anticamping law to break up homeless clusters, Sacramento recently formed a task force to look into designating homeless tracts because shelters are overflowing. One refuge in the California capital, St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children, is turning away about 350 people a night, compared with 25 two years ago, said executive director Michele Steeb.”
“Often, evicted families also lose the opportunity to benefit from public housing because Housing Authorities count evictions and unpaid debt as strikes when reviewing applications. And so people who have the greatest need for housing assistance — the rent-burdened and evicted — are systematically denied it.” ― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
“The home is the center of life. It is a refuge from the grind of work, the pressure of school, and the menace of the streets. We say that at home, we can “be ourselves.” Everywhere else, we are someone else. At home, we remove our masks.
The home is the wellspring of personhood. It is where our identity takes root and blossoms, where as children, we imagine, play, and question, and as adolescents, we retreat and try. As we grow older, we hope to settle into a place to raise a family or pursue work. When we try to understand ourselves, we often begin by considering the kind of home in which we were raised.” ― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City
Back to start of story before the story ends…
Young adult stops by to pick up some money and is on one level of the parking garage and older adult on another level of the parking garage. Older adult calls on cell to younger adult, “where are you?” Older adult takes elevator and goes to the lower level where young adult is waiting and then gets out of car.
“Here are the monies”, as older adult hands to young adult. Older adult in bewilderment not knowing what is going on with young adult and trying not to pry but very concerned about well being.
“Where you staying?” older adult asked the young adult who is looking unconcerned/blank stare … “in my car, in a hotel, I am alright.
Translation by older adult “in my car and on the street and on park bench.”
“I am on my way to work now.” Young adult states so will not be late to warehouse job.
Older adult concerned if younger adult has had a meal and when was last meal? Warm, safe, scared, mentally ok, someone cares.
Adulting is hard older adult knows but when do you speak up to help. Young adult stayed and slept on older adult living room floor after a couple weeks after eviction from house and now who knows where. Young adult looked ok on the outside and is working but….
Another evicted relative sleeps on a sleeping bag in the kitchen at night of the older adult and goes to work in the morning.
“By and large, the poor do not want some small life. They don’t want to game the system or eke out an existence; they want to thrive and contribute.” ― Matthew Desmond, Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City