I'm beginning a process to help my mentally ill, physically disabled friend, who's been paying $800 rent, out of a $900 SSI check for 7 years. Now his slumlord has given notice for a $200 rent increase. This will put him on the street, and it's a death sentence for someone with diabetes, congestive heart issues, asthma, neuropathy in his feet, and BiPolar disorder. His studio apt. is in serious disrepair. The ceiling in the bathroom is ready to fall in, from water leakage in above apt. The toilet is seriously leaning off to one side. The floor tiles are all lifting. The place is home to large numbers of cockroaches, mice and rats.
He's afraid to tell the manager because he's afraid of being kicked out. His parents are also mentally and physically ill, and support his fears. They are both extremely fearful and paranoid. His entire family has mental and emotional problems. I'm the only sane one in his life, for the past 25 years.
The rent increase notice was given to his mother, who just recently released it to me. He has 2 weeks left to sign this before he's evicted. I don't think he's competent to sign a lease, and there was never one signed when he was moved in by a previous social worker. He hasn't had a case worker for 7 years.
I want to start with the most efficient process to halt this action, and I've been given names of several resources, including Legal Aid, Housing Authority, and others. Today I was told about Legal Shield, and wondered if anyone has experience using this service for anything other than standard legal stuff like ID theft, wills, etc.