Recent Victory Focuses on Preserving Housing

Legal Aid attorney Agustin Ponce de Leon persevered for over a year to ensure that his client was fairly treated by his landlord. The client was disabled and used a wheelchair. The client was also part of the Section 8 housing program, yet the landlord demanded rent and bill payments that were outside what was agreed upon in the Section 8 contract. Mr. Ponce de Leon negotiated for his client to move out of the property, but the landowner then refused a return of the security deposit and demanded additional funds, alleging damage caused by the client’s wheelchair.

Mr. Ponce de Leon challenged the landlord in court and highlighted the inspector who confirmed the property damage was in fact employed by a company owned by the landlord. Mr. Ponce de Leon ensured justice and the rightful settlement for his client, and he was happy to highlight that the system does work for the disadvantaged.

(Legal Aid’s Housing Law programs are generously funded by the Eva L. and Joseph M. Bruening Foundation, Charter One, the Murphy Family Foundation, and Ulmer & Berne LLP.)