By Sunny Park, Attorney, Housing Unit
Meet Ms. Martinez (fictitious name) and her mother, who have successfully moved on to a more stable life in a new home following an eviction proceeding. Our outstanding Housing Team—Vladimir Aguilar, Gilberto Quirarte, Efrain Partida, and I—assisted them throughout their case.
Ms. Martinez has a medical condition that prevented her from maintaining stable employment. After she was sued for nonpayment of rent, she and her mother were able to obtain rental assistance from Working Families Forward in Santa Ana, California, and initially resolved the case through a pay-and-stay settlement. Unfortunately, shortly thereafter, Ms. Martinez’s medical condition worsened, and they were unable to continue making payments. Ultimately, the landlord agreed to waive all back rent, and Ms. Martinez and her mother were able to move out with the eviction record sealed. Since then, the family has moved into a beautiful new home and is beginning a new chapter in their lives. Our team assisted them through two settlement agreements, both resulting in positive outcomes.
What stood out most to me throughout this process was Ms. Martinez’s consistently positive and respectful attitude toward her landlord and us. Once a legal case is filed, landlords in Orange County are often reluctant to accept third-party rental assistance because they are not legally required to do so. Despite the stress of the eviction, Ms. Martinez remained calm, respectful, and non-confrontational, and she maintained a cordial relationship with her property manager. I believe this approach played a significant role in securing two favorable settlements.
Our Housing Team is very happy to see that this family is back on track, moving forward with stability and confidence, without feeling intimidated or discouraged by the legal process.
