My name is Janina Davis, a Brooklyn resident and former homeowner in Clinton Hill.

You may have heard of my story, which appears in “Slumlord Millionaire,” a new PBS documentary that addresses the many ways in which housing and homeownership have become more unaffordable and impossible to protect in New York City.

The film follows my career as a successful supermodel in the 1990s, my aspiration to create intergenerational wealth for my family, and the unimaginable surprise when I was evicted from my own house as a victim of deed theft. Deed theft, Title theft occurs when a thief takes the title to a home without the homeowner’s knowledge or approval. This is a widespread problem among historically Black and Latinx neighborhoods in New York City and across the US. People like me are targeted because of our race and with the use of deceitful real estate tactics our homes are being stolen. Alarmingly, my story is just one of thousands of others in my neighborhood, as gentrification grows in Black and Latinx neighborhoods.

After spending 8 years of compiling evidence and seeking legal counsel for my case, I’d thrown in the towel. The psychic and emotional toll became unbearable and I sought to move on and attempt to start a new beginning.

However, in the last 6 months, we’ve discovered a new break. There is a new path forward for me to reclaim my property, and heal from decades-long trauma.

After a thorough revisiting of my case, several attorneys and joint venture consultants have discovered that I have another opportunity to fight for justice!

Thank you for your help and support. This fundraiser for $75,000 will help me with legal fees to research and fight my case.