“Carson,”* is a Social Security Disability recipient who lives with a traumatic brain injury. With the help of a local family service agency, he secured a temporary living placement in a downtown motel. Carson paid a month’s rent in advance, plus a damage deposit, close to $600 total. He was there for only four days before he suffered an epileptic seizure, which seriously affected his thought process. Afterward, a housekeeper found a cigarette butt in a glass in his room.
Because the motel has a strict no smoking policy, he was immediately evicted. Moreover, he was refused a refund for the remainder of the month, a real burden on him given how little money Social Security provides each month. Carson and the family service agency reviewed the rental agreement and saw no basis for the decision not to refund his rent. Still, the motel staff adamantly refused to consider a refund. The family agency was given an 800 number to call but weeks passed without a resolution. It was then that the agency contacted the Center for Justice on Carson’s behalf. Carson was interviewed by CFJ staff and his cause accepted. Numerous phone calls were made before a Center volunteer finally reached a representative of the motel’s owner. When the circumstances were explained, the owner’s representative not only refunded $500 to Carson, but issued an apology as well.
*Not his real name.
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