Surviving Eviction... We Need You.
Donation protected
ADDENDUM: The reprieve is over and we are back to court trying to prove that we mailed the rent, which we did. We are still overwhelmed with gratitude for the generous donations that will keep us afloat if we are--once again--evicted for specious causes. The crazy part of this equation? We are hoping to relocate in a few months but the ongoing cost of litigation is rendering is broker and broker still. And, therefore, more and more stuck.
EXCITING NEWS: We got a stay of eviction, which means--basically--that we were unevicted. This event happens so rarely that the sheriff's department didn't know what stamp to use to finalize our case. For now, we'll go back to being the same rule followers we've always been. We also hope to use our privilege to help others who are trapped in the ex parte process.
Note: It's not just about us anymore. Indeed, we've learned from our sources that "no one gets out [of an ex parte hearing] at Dept. 501 of the SF Superior Court without being evicted. What's going on here? Why were we asked questions without being sworn? Why did we or our lawyer never get to argue? What about the many folk who are less savvy than us? So many questions.
For more information, please contact us at [email redacted]
And let us be clear: WE ARE NOT FIGHTING SMALL-TIME LANDLORDS. Rather, we want to defend tenants from unethical and greedy landlords of all stripes while protecting small-business owners.
+++
July 18, 2014: Our little family was legally evicted.
After an 18-month legal battle, a judge (who never met us) sided with the plaintiff, our landlord, on an ex parte motion. This motion--like the case against us--was rife with curious allegations. We are devastated, as we have little legal recourse or money.
This process exhausted Oona's retirement and our meager discretionary income. As a teacher and a psychotherapy intern, we struggle mightily to make it in the most expensive city in the US. Now, we're struggling to meet our basic needs as we plan an unwanted and unexpected move from our long-term home. We are broke, terrified, and dealing with health-related fallout.
We must find new housing, possibly in Oregon (close to friends and family), with a "kiss of death" eviction mark on our credit reports. We have little time to move and no resources to make that happen. As of August 6, we must find a sublet, seek jobs, and resolve health issues before we start fresh.
That's why need you.
Friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors--we humbly ask for your help as we endure these changes. There's a small chance that we'll stay in the Bay Area, but prices and our eviction record might make that impossible.
Either way, your generosity will enable us to move without the devastation of losing our posessions or our beloved pet. We will not, we hope, become homeless. Your support will also help defray many eviction-related expenses and contribute to a security deposit for our next home.
So, thank you. Thank you a thousand times over.
We are deeply moved by your love, support, and kindness. Please note that we plan to donate any money that we don't use to the SF-based Eviction Defense Collaborative, which helps people less privileged than us fight this heart-breaking epidemic.
We'll update you all soon.
Best,
B. Alison Panko & Oona Hanawalt
Costs
We're not sure how to break costs down anymore. This case has been expensive in every way we can imagine and will likely continue to be so. We will let you know more as we know.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: **San Francisco, my home for almost 13 years, now has the most expensive housing/rental market in the US. An example? Our rent-controlled apartment will likely be rented to the next high bidder--someone who will pay twice what we pay. Yes, our Mission flat could be become someone else's new crash pad--at the tune of more than $6500. We can't afford anything close to that. To be honest, we can't afford much of anything in the Bay Area, as rent for a one-bedroom exceeds $2500 for a small one-bedroom apartment--a %200 increase since last year. How do low income families manage to live indoors at all? This situation is a travesty.
EXCITING NEWS: We got a stay of eviction, which means--basically--that we were unevicted. This event happens so rarely that the sheriff's department didn't know what stamp to use to finalize our case. For now, we'll go back to being the same rule followers we've always been. We also hope to use our privilege to help others who are trapped in the ex parte process.
Note: It's not just about us anymore. Indeed, we've learned from our sources that "no one gets out [of an ex parte hearing] at Dept. 501 of the SF Superior Court without being evicted. What's going on here? Why were we asked questions without being sworn? Why did we or our lawyer never get to argue? What about the many folk who are less savvy than us? So many questions.
For more information, please contact us at [email redacted]
And let us be clear: WE ARE NOT FIGHTING SMALL-TIME LANDLORDS. Rather, we want to defend tenants from unethical and greedy landlords of all stripes while protecting small-business owners.
+++
July 18, 2014: Our little family was legally evicted.
After an 18-month legal battle, a judge (who never met us) sided with the plaintiff, our landlord, on an ex parte motion. This motion--like the case against us--was rife with curious allegations. We are devastated, as we have little legal recourse or money.
This process exhausted Oona's retirement and our meager discretionary income. As a teacher and a psychotherapy intern, we struggle mightily to make it in the most expensive city in the US. Now, we're struggling to meet our basic needs as we plan an unwanted and unexpected move from our long-term home. We are broke, terrified, and dealing with health-related fallout.
We must find new housing, possibly in Oregon (close to friends and family), with a "kiss of death" eviction mark on our credit reports. We have little time to move and no resources to make that happen. As of August 6, we must find a sublet, seek jobs, and resolve health issues before we start fresh.
That's why need you.
Friends, family, acquaintances, colleagues, neighbors--we humbly ask for your help as we endure these changes. There's a small chance that we'll stay in the Bay Area, but prices and our eviction record might make that impossible.
Either way, your generosity will enable us to move without the devastation of losing our posessions or our beloved pet. We will not, we hope, become homeless. Your support will also help defray many eviction-related expenses and contribute to a security deposit for our next home.
So, thank you. Thank you a thousand times over.
We are deeply moved by your love, support, and kindness. Please note that we plan to donate any money that we don't use to the SF-based Eviction Defense Collaborative, which helps people less privileged than us fight this heart-breaking epidemic.
We'll update you all soon.
Best,
B. Alison Panko & Oona Hanawalt
Costs
We're not sure how to break costs down anymore. This case has been expensive in every way we can imagine and will likely continue to be so. We will let you know more as we know.
AN IMPORTANT NOTE: **San Francisco, my home for almost 13 years, now has the most expensive housing/rental market in the US. An example? Our rent-controlled apartment will likely be rented to the next high bidder--someone who will pay twice what we pay. Yes, our Mission flat could be become someone else's new crash pad--at the tune of more than $6500. We can't afford anything close to that. To be honest, we can't afford much of anything in the Bay Area, as rent for a one-bedroom exceeds $2500 for a small one-bedroom apartment--a %200 increase since last year. How do low income families manage to live indoors at all? This situation is a travesty.
Organizer
Alison Panko
Organizer
San Francisco, CA
