LYNN — Around 30 people gathered on Nelson Street Tuesday to rally around a resident who faces eviction.
Patty Ford was born and raised in Lynn and has lived in her apartment on Nelson Street for 40 years.
The 76-year-old Ford said she had been living alone on a fixed income for the past 16 years. The building Ford lives in was bought by Stephan Bilharz and Albert Azatyants of 32A Nelson Street LLC in Stoneham for $725,000 in February, according to filings with the Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds.
Ford’s monthly rent increased by more than $500 after the sale and her new landlords served her a notice to quit in March, according to Isaac Hodes of Lynn United for Change. Hodes added that the action was taken with no cause.
After Ford spent the next few months in court fighting to stay in her apartment, she was given notice last week that she would be evicted on Tuesday.
After getting word of Ford’s situation, members of Lynn United for Change and Ward 6 City Councilor Fred Hogan began to try and find a way to halt the eviction process, which included the demonstration on Tuesday.
“We got together and came up with ideas just to avoid this situation,” Hogan said.
On Monday evening, the efforts of Hogan and Lynn United for Change paid off when they were notified that the landlords had agreed to delay the eviction process to give Ford and the parties advocating on her behalf more time to come up with options for her.
“We’re very happy that we could avoid the eviction that was set for today,” Hogan said. “There’s still a lot of work to do.”
Despite the landlords’ agreement to halt the eviction process, Lynn United for Change and other community members rallied outside of Ford’s apartment Tuesday to show their solidarity.
Celly De La Cruz, a community organizer with Lynn United for Change, spoke to the crowd, members of which held signs and chanted in support of Ford.
“We decided we could not stand by and watch an elderly member of our community be thrown out of the home she’s lived in for 40 years,” De La Cruz said in remarks to the crowd. “Late last night we got good news. Because so many people stepped forward to stand in solidarity, we’ve got a chance for Patty to remain. At the last minute, the landlords have agreed to halt the scheduled eviction.”
Ford was emotional throughout the rally and said she was overwhelmed by the support she received from the community.
“I just want to thank you,” Ford, fighting back tears, said to the crowd. “It means a lot to me.”
Bilharz and Azatyants did not respond to multiple requests for comment from The Daily Item.
As part of the rally, organizers asked attendees to sign and collect signatures for Bill H.2103, which has been petitioned by state Rep. Peter Capano, who represents Ward 6, and Bill S.1299.
Organizers from Lynn United for Change described these bills as important protections for residents amid a housing crisis both in the city and across the region.
“To elected officials: We need policy change. We need rent control. We need big investments in truly affordable housing, including high-quality public housing,” Kellieanne McNeil, a volunteer at Lynn United for Change, said. “Housing is a human right!”
Hodes gave a similar message, calling for lawmakers to implement policies to protect tenants, especially those on low and fixed incomes.
“It’s not just happening here, it’s happening all over the city,” Hodes said.
Hogan said city and state leaders need to act to better protect renters in communities like Lynn and noted that the situation is especially important to him as someone who represents Ford’s district.
“We have to get some policy changed just to start protecting people,” Hogan said. “It hurts you when you’re a city councilor and you get to know your constituents.”
Mayor Jared Nicholson said he was happy the landlords and Ford have more time to find a solution and that the city is determined to address the need for fair and equitable housing.
“Our administration is committed to working to help our residents remain safely housed,” Nicholson said in a statement. “Working with our community partners, we are providing equitable housing opportunities and mitigation to try to prevent situations like this from leading to displacement.”
