SCLS Success Stories
*Client names have been changed to protect privacy
Don and Alison Peterson* were severely impacted by the CZU fires in 2020 when their house in Ben Lomond burned down. They began looking for a new place to live. Then they considered a factory-built "pre-assembled" ADU unit to have delivered to live in on their land. They visited the ADU factory and wanted to purchase the home, but grew concerned by the large contract with many confusing terms. They reached out to Senior Citizens Legal Services for help with reviewing the contract before they signed, in order to ascertain all the risks in this situation. What if something got damaged in transportation? The terms of the agreement would be binding once they signed so they wanted to know what to expect. SCLS looked at the contract and explained various specific clauses to them. We also explained that most big company consumer contracts are created in the companies' favor and that the important thing is that they know what is in it. The Petersons thanked us for our advice and were happy with the help!
After the trauma of losing their home, the difficult and costly decisions that follow can be especially hard. SCLS was grateful to help the Petersons get back onto their feet and into a new home.
Marco* came to SCLS because he had received a 90-day notice to vacate his apartment, as his landlord no longer wanted to participate in Section 8 Housing. With our help, Marco was able to stay in his apartment, his landlord withdrew the notice, and continues to accept Section 8 funding.
Victoria* had a creditor levy her retirement funds to satisfy a judgment. Victoria had filed an exemption, explaining that her retirement income was exempt. Still, the creditor levied her bank account. SCLS assisted Victoria in a hearing and won. Her funds were returned to her.
Alejandro*, a monolingual Spanish-speaking client, became disabled and unable to work. He sought assistance in obtaining disability benefits to help pay for rent. He faced significant language barriers for months and was not able to access much-needed benefits through various agencies. SCLS assisted Alejandro in receiving SSDI payments and staying in his home.
Lucas* sought advice on his rights to privacy. Lucas, who is 70 years old, lives alone in a mobile home park and his neighbors across the street had security cameras that viewed into his kitchen. He voiced his concerns to his neighbors, but they continued to position their cameras directly on the front of his home. Lucas did not want to cover his kitchen windows because of the darkness it would cause. Lucas had learned from other neighbors that his neighbors across the street would post security footage on public websites and he was concerned that his kitchen and he may show up in the footage. SCLS represented Lucas and demanded his neighbors cease and desist in this invasion of privacy. The neighbors complied, repositioning their cameras, so Lucas can now live in his home peacefully and secure. Lucas can now keep his kitchen blinds open without fear of being recorded in his own home.
Due to a clerical error, Emily* was retroactively terminated from her Medicare Advantage insurance for the year 2019. During this period, she had received extensive cancer treatment that she anticipated would be covered by her insurance. The insurance clawed back payments they had previously made, resulting in Emily receiving thousands of dollars in hospital bills. SCLS filed multilevel appeals and navigated extensive re-instatement demands with the insurer on Emily’s behalf. Emily was eventually reinstated retroactively onto her Medicare Advantage for that year and all hospital bills were covered. Without SCLS's help, Emily's world would have been devastated by her struggle to re-pay the medical debt. Emily's gratitude and peace of mind is worth millions.
After the passing of their son, Marcus* and Amanda* were faced with grandparent visitation challenges. Their daughter-in-law was making visits with their eight-year-old granddaughter Allie* difficult. Marcus and Amanda love Allie dearly and had supported her since her infancy. Marcus and Amanda recognized that the peak of the pandemic made visitations challenging and made every attempt to negotiate alternative visitations with their daughter-in-law, but she refused. SCLS was able to help Marcus and Amanda by representing them in court and seeking a positive and harmonious outcome for Allie and all her guardians that love her. On top of restoring monthly visitations, the Judge was also moved to include a weekly videophone visit. It was a heart-warming success and Allie was able to reconnect with her grandparents and extended family on her late father's side who missed her very much!
Long-time Last Chance residents the Newfields* had their home burned down in the CZU fires along with other Last Chance residents. Last Chance, an off-grid community that has existed in the Santa Cruz mountains since the 1970's, had homesteads that were built over decades and some housed multiple generations. The properties used a combination of solar, batteries, generators, wind and water turbines for power and most of the homes used composting toilets. The houses were created using cob, straw bale, rock and other non-traditional materials as well as traditional building materials. The community was predominantly low-income seniors who owned their own homes but had built their houses without permits. Following the devastating fire, the Newfields found themselves seeking a way of using an alternative building code to rebuild their homes. SCLS was able to step in and assist with fire alleviation for the Newfields by working with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to obtain a trial period class K building code. The Newfields are now looking forward to rebuilding in their long-time and long-loved community!
Clayton*, 68, phoned SCLS terrified after receiving a ten-day notice to vacate his home of over fifteen years. Clayton was being blamed for a rodent infestation in his lifetime of possessions and had health issues that precluded him from adequately addressing it. SCLS worked closely with APS (Adult Protective Services) and negotiated an agreement with the landlord, allowing Clayton to stay in his home and receive all necessary repairs. The agreement included downsizing and organizing his possessions, getting his home sanitized, and easier to clean flooring installed. APS acted with extreme diligence in this matter, reinforcing that no senior citizen should live in those deplorable conditions. This negotiated settlement will help abate the rodent issue for Clayton and keep him safely housed.
Armando’s* niece sought out SCLS for assistance with her uncle. Armando has speaking and reading impairments that led him to set up an immediately effective power of attorney to receive help caring for his finances. Sadly, years later, Armando was severely neglected and taken advantage of by that POA. Fortunately, Adult Protective Services was notified and assisted Armando with obtaining a temporary restraining order against the current POA. A police report was filed, and Armando turned to SCLS for assistance with the necessary POA revocation and a new POA naming his niece. SCLS helped Armando prepare for his permanent restraining order hearing, drafted his new POA documents, and ensured it was notarized and finalized. Armando will now have peace of mind with his new power of attorney and the confidence that his most essential needs are being met with trusted care.
Don and Alison Peterson* were severely impacted by the CZU fires in 2020 when their house in Ben Lomond burned down. They began looking for a new place to live. Then they considered a factory-built "pre-assembled" ADU unit to have delivered to live in on their land. They visited the ADU factory and wanted to purchase the home, but grew concerned by the large contract with many confusing terms. They reached out to Senior Citizens Legal Services for help with reviewing the contract before they signed, in order to ascertain all the risks in this situation. What if something got damaged in transportation? The terms of the agreement would be binding once they signed so they wanted to know what to expect. SCLS looked at the contract and explained various specific clauses to them. We also explained that most big company consumer contracts are created in the companies' favor and that the important thing is that they know what is in it. The Petersons thanked us for our advice and were happy with the help!
After the trauma of losing their home, the difficult and costly decisions that follow can be especially hard. SCLS was grateful to help the Petersons get back onto their feet and into a new home.
Marco* came to SCLS because he had received a 90-day notice to vacate his apartment, as his landlord no longer wanted to participate in Section 8 Housing. With our help, Marco was able to stay in his apartment, his landlord withdrew the notice, and continues to accept Section 8 funding.
Victoria* had a creditor levy her retirement funds to satisfy a judgment. Victoria had filed an exemption, explaining that her retirement income was exempt. Still, the creditor levied her bank account. SCLS assisted Victoria in a hearing and won. Her funds were returned to her.
Alejandro*, a monolingual Spanish-speaking client, became disabled and unable to work. He sought assistance in obtaining disability benefits to help pay for rent. He faced significant language barriers for months and was not able to access much-needed benefits through various agencies. SCLS assisted Alejandro in receiving SSDI payments and staying in his home.
Lucas* sought advice on his rights to privacy. Lucas, who is 70 years old, lives alone in a mobile home park and his neighbors across the street had security cameras that viewed into his kitchen. He voiced his concerns to his neighbors, but they continued to position their cameras directly on the front of his home. Lucas did not want to cover his kitchen windows because of the darkness it would cause. Lucas had learned from other neighbors that his neighbors across the street would post security footage on public websites and he was concerned that his kitchen and he may show up in the footage. SCLS represented Lucas and demanded his neighbors cease and desist in this invasion of privacy. The neighbors complied, repositioning their cameras, so Lucas can now live in his home peacefully and secure. Lucas can now keep his kitchen blinds open without fear of being recorded in his own home.
Due to a clerical error, Emily* was retroactively terminated from her Medicare Advantage insurance for the year 2019. During this period, she had received extensive cancer treatment that she anticipated would be covered by her insurance. The insurance clawed back payments they had previously made, resulting in Emily receiving thousands of dollars in hospital bills. SCLS filed multilevel appeals and navigated extensive re-instatement demands with the insurer on Emily’s behalf. Emily was eventually reinstated retroactively onto her Medicare Advantage for that year and all hospital bills were covered. Without SCLS's help, Emily's world would have been devastated by her struggle to re-pay the medical debt. Emily's gratitude and peace of mind is worth millions.
After the passing of their son, Marcus* and Amanda* were faced with grandparent visitation challenges. Their daughter-in-law was making visits with their eight-year-old granddaughter Allie* difficult. Marcus and Amanda love Allie dearly and had supported her since her infancy. Marcus and Amanda recognized that the peak of the pandemic made visitations challenging and made every attempt to negotiate alternative visitations with their daughter-in-law, but she refused. SCLS was able to help Marcus and Amanda by representing them in court and seeking a positive and harmonious outcome for Allie and all her guardians that love her. On top of restoring monthly visitations, the Judge was also moved to include a weekly videophone visit. It was a heart-warming success and Allie was able to reconnect with her grandparents and extended family on her late father's side who missed her very much!
Long-time Last Chance residents the Newfields* had their home burned down in the CZU fires along with other Last Chance residents. Last Chance, an off-grid community that has existed in the Santa Cruz mountains since the 1970's, had homesteads that were built over decades and some housed multiple generations. The properties used a combination of solar, batteries, generators, wind and water turbines for power and most of the homes used composting toilets. The houses were created using cob, straw bale, rock and other non-traditional materials as well as traditional building materials. The community was predominantly low-income seniors who owned their own homes but had built their houses without permits. Following the devastating fire, the Newfields found themselves seeking a way of using an alternative building code to rebuild their homes. SCLS was able to step in and assist with fire alleviation for the Newfields by working with the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors to obtain a trial period class K building code. The Newfields are now looking forward to rebuilding in their long-time and long-loved community!
Clayton*, 68, phoned SCLS terrified after receiving a ten-day notice to vacate his home of over fifteen years. Clayton was being blamed for a rodent infestation in his lifetime of possessions and had health issues that precluded him from adequately addressing it. SCLS worked closely with APS (Adult Protective Services) and negotiated an agreement with the landlord, allowing Clayton to stay in his home and receive all necessary repairs. The agreement included downsizing and organizing his possessions, getting his home sanitized, and easier to clean flooring installed. APS acted with extreme diligence in this matter, reinforcing that no senior citizen should live in those deplorable conditions. This negotiated settlement will help abate the rodent issue for Clayton and keep him safely housed.
Armando’s* niece sought out SCLS for assistance with her uncle. Armando has speaking and reading impairments that led him to set up an immediately effective power of attorney to receive help caring for his finances. Sadly, years later, Armando was severely neglected and taken advantage of by that POA. Fortunately, Adult Protective Services was notified and assisted Armando with obtaining a temporary restraining order against the current POA. A police report was filed, and Armando turned to SCLS for assistance with the necessary POA revocation and a new POA naming his niece. SCLS helped Armando prepare for his permanent restraining order hearing, drafted his new POA documents, and ensured it was notarized and finalized. Armando will now have peace of mind with his new power of attorney and the confidence that his most essential needs are being met with trusted care.