Class 2: Case Studies – Housing
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Case Study #1: Amir attends your office with small itchy bites on his arms and legs. They look like bedbug bites. He says that his neighbour has bedbugs. He doesn't know what to do. This is a legal problem – landlords have an obligation to keep up with maintenance on their rental units, and this includes dealing with pest problems. Amir should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #2: Patrice comes to your office saying they think their depression and anxiety are getting worse. They tell you about being stressed about an upcoming eviction hearing - they fell behind on rent. They haven't moved because they don't have anywhere to go. This is a legal problem and Patrice should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #3: Terrell was scheduled for an appointment with you, the social worker, but didn't show up. He calls to reschedule. He tells you that he’s sorry – he missed the appointment because his landlord showed up and said he had to move out because he was selling the place, and they got into an argument. This is a legal problem and Terrell should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #4: Jackie has five cats, which she says are her support animals. She's in your office, upset, because her landlord told her that her apartment was too small for so many cats and demanded that she get rid of three of them. This is a legal problem and Jackie should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #5: Isabel gets disability benefits and she has been looking for an apartment for a while without any luck. She tells you that the last landlord emailed her saying he was "looking for someone who works". This is a legal problem and Isabel should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #6: Bernard, who has previously been diagnosed with COPD, visits your office explaining that he believes his breathing is getting worse because of exposure to mold in his house. Bernard says he's had prolonged, close contact with the mold because his landlord told him to clean it. The landlord said it was Bernard's responsibility to keep his house clean. This is a legal problem – landlords have an obligation to keep up with maintenance on their rental units, and this includes dealing mold and other health hazards. Bernard should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #7: Jorje comes to your office and says that his anxiety has become increasingly worse ever since a new landlord took over his building. The new landlord visits Jorje's apartment daily to ensure Jorje is keeping his apartment clean. Jorje is very stressed about the new landlord constantly being in his personal space. Jorje is going to visit his sister for a few days, and is worried that the new landlord will enter for an inspection while he's away and make up problems. This is a legal problem and Jorje should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #8: Annie comes to your office and tells you that her chronic pain is getting worse. She has to carry her walker up a set of stairs to get into her apartment building and this is really hard on her legs and back. Annie asked her landlord to install a ramp so that she doesn't have to lift and carry her walker up the stairs. Annie's landlord told her that he doesn't have to install a ramp since he owns the building and he can decide what to do with it. This is a legal problem and Annie should be referred to a legal clinic for help.
Case Study #9: Carmen comes to your office and explains that her insomnia is getting worse because of a steady leak in her bedroom ceiling. There is a constant dripping noise, and she has to empty the bucket that she placed underneath the leak regularly. Carmen says that she would love to contact her landlord to see if they can fix the issue, but her landlord never gave her their contact information or address. This is a legal problem and Carmen should be referred to the legal clinic for help.