Housing trouble moves fast, and people under stress miss deadlines. A neighbor who helps organize can make a real difference, as long as the person stays in charge of their own situation.
- Ask what they want help with before offering solutions, and keep what they tell you private.
- Help them list dates: when rent is due, any notice deadlines, and any court date. Put them on one sheet of paper.
- Sit with them while they call 211 or a legal aid office. Offer to take notes on who said what.
- Help with logistics: a ride to an appointment, printing documents, or childcare during a hearing.
Don’t give legal advice or negotiate with a landlord on their behalf. Point them to legal aid for anything involving a lease dispute or a court filing.