Dear Friends,

Here we are again. I wish I could make sense of why we are here again, but we are here, and I am being evicted once again for reasons that are not my fault.

I have given as much detail as I can about my case. After my previous eviction decision in March of 2021, I was assured that my housing would be stabilized, but I am again facing eviction. I now (unfairly) owe nearly $7,000 in rent, late fees, legal fees, & utility bills. I am also behind on other bills and accounts now too. My fantastic lawyer and social worker have worked diligently to partner with community organizations to ask for half of the eviction amount. Now, I am begging for the other half ($3500) through GoFundMe.

As part of that assurance, I was "asked" (read: pressured) to sign legally binding paperwork so that my landlord could receive their payments and so all parties could move forward. I felt coerced into signing these documents without feeling like everyone was moving forward together, but I was told that it was "not a big deal," and the signing was just a formality to move on. Hence, I obliged, despite not being entirely comfortable with it, but also not having another option to secure safe housing for my disability needs at that moment and in the future. All parties reassured me that signing all the paperwork would be all I needed to do. This paperwork included backdating a previous lease and signing a new lease. I was prepared to sign the new lease as it is a normal part of the process.

The other parties continued to communicate with each other, much of the time without my lawyer or I involved. We were excluded from these conversations, often the last to know of any obstacles in the process of finalization, but often made to jump over random hurdles at the last minute, like an in-person inspection amidst COVID19, despite having medical procedures planned during my birthday. Or paperwork I had already filled out needing to be filled out again, this time online, but without the fields correctly opened to fill in my information. Or being told to create documents that were beyond the scope of my disabilities, but telling my lawyer and other parties either nothing further was needed, or they were waiting for me to complete work when it had been done.

In September, an eviction complaint was filed against me for an October hearing, but the other parties discussed it without us, and it was canceled (without notifying me). This was another indication to me that all was well and it had been resolved.

Instead, the paperwork that I signed, which holds me legally responsible and liable, the other parties did not complete, despite issuing and receiving the payments (and possible bonus compensation), illegally, but I believe it was in good faith for the party to show their willingness to the other to make sure payment continued even if the paperwork was not complete on their end. They did not do their due diligence and issue or sign the paperwork correctly/timely. Therefore the responsibility in this "entanglement" or "trio" suddenly fell to me, including legal fees, late fees, & a threat to not house me in the future.

The judge pointed out to the plaintiff, who questioned why I would enter into a lease if I could not pay it on a fixed income with SSI (which was $794/mo in 2021 and just went to $841/mo in 2022) that I would have entered into the agreement in the first place without expecting the parties issuing the paperwork to sign it themselves.

Unfortunately, this is in the local court's jurisdiction, where there are no laws to help me fight the reasons this happened. Those require a higher court, one that I hope to get to one day in pursuit of justice (which needs more considerable legal help than pro bono organizations can provide). Meanwhile, I am stuck at the mercy of these parties and must pay this money. The party wanting their money has added an additional twist: If not paid, I will not only lose my housing, but they will reject the previous payments paid by the other party on my behalf so far, leaving me stuck for more than just the $7,000.

Due to the continued mistakes of the parties, I have been denied other assistance as well. Without the "correct rent payment," I am not eligible for other forms of financial aid, which can also put my current types of regular benefits at risk. Without the proper paperwork signed by all parties, I also am denied funding for any form of modifications or accommodations I have needed to live in my apartment. This includes going in and out of my apartment building doors, pretty much trapping me inside. I have also had to pay to create modifications in my apartment that work for me.

I know that this housing problem has been going on for years. For me, it started in 2014 when I first became homeless, and it's always just been like putting a bandaid over a wound that needs stitches. I feel robbed of many of the years that were supposed to be formative in my adult years and instead replaced it with isolation, even before the pandemic. I have lost friends and community, and at this point, I am grateful if you are willing to be here. I know many people are struggling, and the pandemic changed a lot of financial situations for many people. I hate having to beg for assistance and to be put in this position to ask.

Your continued help has kept me out of being forced into a nursing home, and for that, I will always be grateful. I have been able to thrive and flourish in those small moments, and it is still my dream to go to Law School and obtain a dual P.hD., which has been quite difficult given that my housing is being challenged every 3-6 months.

If you can find a way in your heart to contribute, even just a few dollars, I would genuinely appreciate it. Thank you so much!

Note: Any funds left over after all costs of this eviction (approx. $7,000) are paid will be distributed to bills, expenses, and Manisha's medical needs that are self-paid. The funds will go to her ABLE Account that legally allows her to "save" and use the money for these needs without affecting her benefits and asset limits.