Paul and Erica had lived in their apartment in the northwest suburbs for five years when Erica lost her waitressing job due to a mental health emergency. Without a steady income, the couple quickly fell behind on their rent and received a 5-day eviction notice.
They reached out to their landlord to explain their situation and negotiate a payment plan, but he refused. To make matters worse, he became increasingly hostile, threatening to charge them $25 for every day they were behind on rent. The hostility and impending court date weighed heavily on Erica, who said her mental health was quickly declining due to stress.
“Having never been evicted, this was all so new for us and we were scared. We didn’t know how eviction court worked, and we didn’t know if anyone would be able to help us,” Erica said.
At their first court date, Erica and Paul connected with LCBH Staff Attorney Spencer Haydary in the Early Resolution Program. Spencer assessed their goals, assuring them they had defenses.
“When we attended court with Spencer; he was so knowledgeable. He understood what we were going through, and he advocated for us. No matter how aggressive the opposing party was, he stayed calm. He respected them, and he respected us,” Erica said.
Using his extensive knowledge of renters’ rights and landlord responsibilities, Spencer supported Erica and Paul in negotiating moveout agreement, which reduced their back rent owed from $18,000 to $5,200 and sealed their eviction record if they moved out within 30 days.
“Spencer made sure that we knew that free didn’t mean that he wasn’t going to work hard for us. He took the time to guide us through each step of the process and answered all of our questions with care and clarity. What could have been an overwhelming and uncertain experience was made manageable because of his support,” Paul said.
Today, without the stress of their eviction case, the couple is enjoying living with family in Bartlett while they secure a new place to live and Erica finds a new job.
“I was struggling with severe anxiety over the potential outcome of our case, but Spencer’s calm and reassuring presence truly made a difference. His professionalism and empathy helped put us at ease during one of the most stressful periods of our lives,” Erica said.