When JoAnn came into the Safe Families Office, she was exhausted from trying to co-parent with her child’s father, who often turned to violence when they disagreed about parenting or finances.

John already had serious health problems which required surgeries and nurse home visits before his issues with his home began. But the nurses refused to keep coming for home visits because of hazardous conditions at his property.

Adriana is a single mother of two. When a mold infestation devastated her apartment, the landlord just told her to keep spraying bleach on the walls – and eventually just painted over it.

Melissa fled the California fires and sought haven in Georgia. She used all the money she had to pay a security deposit and first month of rent for a new apartment while she waited for her housing choice vouchers to transfer. But the conditions were unacceptable.

Sophia had finally had enough. Her boyfriend of ten years was an aggressive alcoholic, and his verbal abuse became too much to bear.

Lana’s eye was badly swollen and red. She’d been to the ER twice for a range of symptoms. Her children were having trouble breathing. A highly dangerous strain of mold had infested Lana’s apartment – and no one came to treat it.

Ms. Talley fled to the Safe Families Office, having made a narrow – and lucky – escape. After attempting to end her relationship, her boyfriend held her hostage for nearly a week. He took her phone so she couldn’t call for help.

Morgan & Morgan attorney Adian Miller’s disabled client and her son rented an apartment that flooded. A little attorney time can go a long way – sometimes all it takes is a stern demand letter to transform someone’s life.

Ms. Alden’s daughter has sickle-cell anemia, and relies on an oxygen tank to keep her breathing; when she moved into a new house, Ms. Alden was horrified to find mold growing in the kitchen, a gaping hole in the wall, and roaches and gnats creeping in.

Ms. Terry’s boyfriend took her phone, pinned her on the bed, punched her, and stole her car. But despite his attempts to restrain her, Ms. Terry found her way to the Safe Families Office.

“I am very thankful for the help and great advice from attorney Andrew Thompson.” – Ms. Carson

AVLF is usually a last resort for the tenants who come to us for help. That was true in Ms. Coltrane’s case: her pleading calls to her landlord about the mold infestation in her home had gone unanswered for months.