Help Laura Survive Eviction

The bottom dropped out of my world last night when the landlord informed  me that I was to be gone within five days. All because of a series of misunderstandings and other events that I can’t speak of for legal reasons (suffice to say: yes, it’s that serious).

I know this pandemic has not been easy on anyone, but for a woman on disability (because of MS) and her partner who now only gets occasional seasonal work, it’s had a terrible impact on our stress levels and mental health.

And now I’m losing my home.

I wish I could say that I’m asking only for help with rent for a month or two. Unfortunately, due to everything that transpired, I’m fairly certain I will be also in need of legal fees, as I fight for my rights as a human being to have a place to live.

When I moved in with my partner last year, it was assumed that I would be treated as a tenant with the same rights as him, as his name was on the lease. (We had intended to change this but then COVID-19 happened and things rather fell by the wayside.)

As I’ve said, almost bigger than the pandemic has been the associated mental health crisis. Particularly now as things open up again, our better angels have all thrown in the towel, and few now show the kindness and calm that Dr. Bonnie Henry asked us for more than a year ago. Lockdown made tempers short, and between that and a lack of work, my partner and I weren’t spared from that. 

In late May, after a former acquaintance  provoked an argument, and my partner and I argued because of how that acquaintance had behaved. My partner gesticulates a lot, and I was close to him, and as he raised his hand he accidentally struck the bottom of my nose. I am not making excuses for him; this is what actually happened. As a survivor, I am well aware of what domestic violence is. This was not that. But it gave me a slight nosebleed, and because of the disturbance the acquaintance caused, it led to my partner being charged with assault, and given an emergency eviction order.

Another misunderstanding due to the stress of that evening was that I, at least, would be allowed to stay. With the heat wave and all of the extra stress seriously affecting my MS and ability to function, and the belief that I was allowed to stay, I did nothing but try to survive and get by.

Then came yesterday.

Although my name is not on the lease, with my disability income I tend to pay most of the rent during tough times. Yes it’s stressful. Sometimes I collect bottles to pay bills but even that is wearing on my health. My partner’s spotty employment caused him to suffer from massive depression, as well as his own fear to leave the house in the past year, with the pandemic raging on. He is older than me and close to retirement age. But whenever he could work, he did. Now I can’t even see him though I’ve revised the statement I was forced to give. And I am barely getting by.

I was given only until Monday July 12th to vacate the premises. I have no money, no physical energy to devote to finding a home, and no time in which to search for one. I will be pursuing all of my options and I expect to have to hire a lawyer as well. But first, I need to find a home. Please, if you can, please help. Thank you.