Vera De Souza insists sheâs been a good tenant.
Sheâs lived in Design Place for the past eight years, and for most of that time has never missed a rent payment. That is, until COVID-19 came along and she lost her job as a restaurant worker. De Souzaâs rental assistance is still being processed, but in the meantime her income is limited to weekly $275 unemployment checks and whatever money she can earn selling homemade masks. On top of that she is helping her daughter-in-law, who also lives in the complex, recover from a difficult birth.
De Souza said the propertyâs management told her theyâd work with her, just as they had months ago when she first fell behind on her rent. But just 10 days before Christmas, she was served with an eviction notice.