Moving Funds and Support for Jacob!

Jacob has been living in his apartment in Clinton Hill for over 14 years and has been resisting a brutal eviction attempt since 2021. Unfortunately, after several long years of this resistance, Jacob will have to vacate his home on April 1st.

We are raising funds to provide him with some financial support as he searches for a new place to live and as he recuperates from a recent surgery that has left him with limited mobility.

A little back story:

After their previous landlord passed away, Jacob’s apartment building was bought by a developer in October 2021. While six people were living there at the time, soon after the building was purchased all of Jacob's roommates left. Jacob decided to stay and demand fair housing. Since then, this new landlord has been attempting to push him out through strategic neglect (withholding essential services such as heat and electricity ), threatening him with physical violence as well as through legal action.

While the list of landlord abuse is long, one particularly violent instance was when the ceiling collapsed on Jacob. Although he made several reports about this potential risk, the landlord did nothing. And in March of 2022, the ceiling fell on his head and he was rushed to the hospital.

Last week (March 7th, 2023), Jacob finally got the corrective surgery he needed for his shoulder but that has also left him with limited mobility which is particularly difficult as he has to move.

Jacob's response has been to resist and organize at every stage. Jacob and I (his friend and neighbor) with others friends and neighbors, organized phone zaps, rallies, and court support. And Jacob and I began documenting his resistance to this landlord abuse and making a short film.

Jacob also is a painter and has continued to make work throughout these incredibly difficult circumstances.

Unfortunately, with the latest court order, Jacob no longer has legal grounds to resist this eviction and will be looking for a new place to live. As we all know, moving is expensive and extra funds will be needed!

Please consider donating if you're able, and share this fundraiser widely.

Jacob is also an incredible artist and please consider supporting/purchasing his work. Check out his IG @Jacobs_eye and @128mountain or reach out to us through this fundraiser.

 

Below are some stills from the film that Jacob and I have been working on throughout this process: