Advocating for safe, habitable public housing in Richmond

A story posted at Richmond Confidential yesterday by Mariam Zagub shines a light on the often severe barriers to safe, habitable housing that low-income tenants with disabilities can face. The story focuses on BayLegal client Michael Lewis and his attorney Henrissa Bassey, and details Mr. Lewis’ struggles with a lack of disabled access and other basic habitability issues in a public housing unit operated by the Richmond Housing Authority, along with his subsequent fight against eviction and displacement.

For details on the case and our ongoing efforts to represent Mr. Lewis in his search for safe, habitable housing, please see Ms. Zagub’s story:

• Mariam Zagub. “Eviction case highlights accessibility, repair issues at Nevin Plaza.” Richmond Confidential. December 9, 2019.

For background on the ongoing habitability and safety issues at Nevin Plaza and other RHA properties, see:

• Ravleen Kaur and Betty Marquez Rosales. “Rodents, Roaches and Broken Elevators: Why it took nearly a decade for Richmond to fix public housing.” Richmond Confidential. November 3, 2018.
• Ravleen Kaur and Betty Marquez Rosales. “Residents of Richmond public housing live in fear, demand action to address poor conditions.” Richmond Confidential. September 14, 2018.
• Amy Harris. “Residents live in filth, fear in mismanaged Bay Area public housing.” Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting. February 17, 2014.