Problem Solvers: Disabled tenant fights eviction in Tulsa

HUNTING -AND BUILD INSTEAD.EVEN THOUGH THE FEDERALMORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS NOW GETSANOTHER EXTENSION...IT DOESN'T MEAN SOME CASHSTRAPPED RENTERS WON'T FACEPROBLEMS.A TULSA AREA WOMAN SAYS SHEFACES THE THREAT OF EVICTIONNEARLY EVERY MONTH.2 NEWS PROBLEM SOLVER PETEKNUTSON TELLS US WHY MANY OTHERRENTERS FIND THEMSELVES IN THESAME PREDICAMENT.(NATS )Stop by Maria's ... and mostdays you'll find her at home...working a crossword puzzle ordoing light chores around thehouse... in between doctor'sappointments ... therapysessions ... and even surgeries.(NATS 4:09)"It's just really frustrating."She hurt her back on the jobin 2016... hasn't been able towork since.... and draws asocial security disability checkevery month...her only income.Adding to the hurt ...eviction notices slapped on herfront door.(SOUNDBITE 6:04)"It's embarrassing to get aneviction notice, actually."When Maria moved into hermobile home park a couple ofyears ago ... she told theoffice she doesn't get herdisability check until the 2ndWednesday of every month.No problem ..

Maria says shewas told.But it wasn't long until shestarted receiving those evictionnotices ... for paying after the5th of every month ... asrequired in her lease.(SOUNDBITE 2:30)"I wouldn't have rented here ifI was going to get evictionnotices every month because ofmy disability."So month after month ofmissing paying by the 5th ...Maria would pay her rent plus ahundred dollar late fee ... whenher disability check came in.She's done that 9 times..Maria says ..

To avoid eviction.She asked the landlord tochange her due date to line upwith when her disability checkarrives.Not an option ... Maria saysshe was told.(SOUNDBITE 5:55)"It kind of makes me mad becausehe knows I'm going to pay it,the money's coming, it's justgoing to be late."(SOUNDBITE 2:44)"Unfortunately, a lot oflandlords use this situation fordisabled and older retiredpeople to exploit themfinancially for that extra$100."Eric Hallett is with LegalAid Services of Oklahoma.(SOUNDBITE 3:46)"A disabled person can ask for achange in the lease terms at anytime."And while it's a good idea toget those terms in writing ..Eric says it's not necessary.It's a form of discrimination... he says.So folks like Maria need toask their landlord for anaccommodation based on theirdisability ... providing aletter... reliableverification... from a doctoror therapist.(SOUNDBITE 1:39)"What's important to thelandlord is not receiving themoney by the 3rd day of themonth or the 5th day of themonth, what is important isreceiving their moneyconsistently."In the months to come... Mariahopes to heal ... her back ...her stress ... her finances.And hopefully ... get offdisability ..

And back on thejob.(SOUNDBITE 9:10)"I can work longer hours andmaybe get ahead a little bit andnot have to worry about this."(STANDUP CLOSE)To help, we put Maria in touchwith Legal Aid Services ofOklahoma.

They'll go over anyoptions she may have.

Legal aidtells they're able to resolvemany cases without going tocourt.

Not only do landlords geta better understanding of thelaw, legal aid says the tenantsget the accommodations they'reentitled to.

If you think youhave a case of discrimination,we have ways for you to reportit ... on KJRH.com.

PK2WFYPSLEGAL EXPERTS TELL US THE ONLYTIME A LANDLORD CAN REFUSE THOSEACCOMMODATIONS.... IS IF THEYCAN PROVE IT WOULD CAUSE THEM ANADMINSTRATIVE