When Rachel’s landlord told her he was selling the home she lived in, she was nervous. He said he wanted to show the apartment to potential buyers, but as an immune-compromised person, she was especially at risk of contracting COVID.

Rachel contacted HOME because she did not want strangers in her home looking around her apartment while her immune system is compromised, against the advice of the medical community.

An advocate at HOME helped her build a strategy. She advised Rachel to make her landlord aware of her health concerns and request some alternative viewing types temporarily. Her case worker encouraged Rachel to call 911 if the landlord tries to force showings of the apartment against her medical needs.

We explained to Rachel that her health and safety comes first. Many people in Western New York find themselves in positions like these. Renters may feel concerned about their well-being and security when a landlord decides to sell their home. Balancing health and landlord relationships can be challenging. HOME is here to help.

Late in 2017, Clark was diagnosed with cancer in the same month he received his Housing Choice Voucher (HCV). This voucher is available for low-income people, seniors, and people living with a disability. Recipients can use their voucher to apply for housing that meets the program’s guidelines, and they don’t need to be limited to subsidized housing. The application for this program can take a long time, and there can be a length waitlist.

Due to his cancer treatments, which were grueling and exhausting, Clark was unable to secure housing within the 60 days required by the HCV program. By June, Clark had still not found a home. The Housing Authority was not willing to give him an extension.

Our team was glad to support Clark when we received his call. HOME staff worked with Clark and the Housing Authority to secure an extension as a reasonable accommodation due to his illness. After obtaining this extension, HOME was able to help secure housing for Clark in the community of his choice.

Having the support of his community and one less worry on his mind will help him in his fight against cancer. HOME works hard to see the person, not just the deadline or the paperwork. We were proud to help.

Bernadette came to home in dire need of housing. She had just received her Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) for the first time and needed help finding a qualifying apartment. Bernadette contacted HOME about our Community Housing Center (CHC) Program. This program is a housing search assistance program for first time HCV holders that can also potentially provide a $400 security deposit.

Bernadette had previously located housing during her housing search process. She found a landlord that was willing to work with her voucher and they began the process. During the HCV process another potential tenant approached the landlord with a cash security deposit. The landlord was unwilling to keep his apartment open for Bernadette.

This exact situation happens every day around the country to folks who have vouchers, as landlords would rather take cash up front than take the time to work with tenants in the HCV program. This caused Bernadette to miss out on a housing opportunity that she was more than qualified for. In addition to this, Bernadette was quickly approaching her deadline to find housing. If she was unable to locate housing before her deadline was up, then she would have lost her voucher.

Luckily HOME was able to quickly help locate an apartment for Bernadette. HOME assisted Bernadette with a $400 security deposit and with the HCV process. As a result of this, Bernadette was able to save her voucher and find suitable housing that would fit her needs!

One of the biggest issues HCV holders face in the City of Buffalo is the unwillingness of landlords to work with vouchers, even though based on New York State, Erie County, and City of Buffalo law it is illegal to discriminate against someone solely on the basis that they have a voucher. If you have been denied housing solely on the basis of having a Section 8 voucher or other government assistance, please make sure to contact HOME!

When COVID hit, Claire was in the midst of looking for a new home. During the pandemic, she was forced to stay in a motel while waiting for a place of her own. When she ran out of funding for her motel room, Claire contacted HOME to find out what her options were. HOME helped her find support through the Erie County Department of Social Services, the organization that is in charge of the shelter placements in Erie County.

So that she could avoid a night without a room or bed to sleep in, we also helped her access after-hours emergency housing placement service. Claire was placed in a shelter located in the City of Buffalo, to keep her safe and warm until she could locate suitable housing.

Claire’s story is unfortunately not unique. Many other Western New Yorkers were in the process of locating housing when the pandemic hit. HOME has been a resource for many people attempting to navigate this unusual situation, and we’re grateful for the chance to serve our community.

This spring, during a cold spell, Martha contacted HOME because her furnace had stopped working. While she had contacted her landlord to have it fixed, he was unwilling to send a repair person to the home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nights were projected to be quite cold, and Martha was worried.

That’s when Martha contacted HOME wanting to know what her legal rights were as a tenant, where our staff helped her navigate this situation. Because Martha’s failing furnace falls under “normal wear and tear” repairing it would be the responsibility of the landlord.

Since the landlord was not willing to send out a repair man, the HOME team told Martha to document all correspondence with the landlord regarding the issue and to send the landlord a notice or letter explaining that she was going to hire someone to come and fix the furnace for the time being. She got a receipt for the service so she could then take the money off of the following month’s rent.

Knowing your rights as a tenant can be a tricky thing! It isn’t always easy, especially during complicated times like a pandemic. That’s how HOME helps. We can help you navigate tough situations as well!