For more than a decade, Cassandra has lived in a manufactured home in Chichester that she co-owns with her grandmother, Beth. But while Cassandra had an ownership interest in the home itself, the lease for the lot beneath it was in Beth’s name alone.
That distinction became critical after an already strained family relationship deteriorated and Beth moved out.
Cassandra remained in the home with her boyfriend, sister-in-law and 14-year-old niece. After Cassandra and her boyfriend both lost their jobs, the family was relying on her sister-in-law’s income while struggling to keep up with the property.
Then the park served an eviction notice alleging that the property had not been adequately maintained.
Cassandra wanted to comply with the park’s requirements and remain in her home, but she didn’t have a copy of the lease and struggled to navigate the process on her own. When the Pro Bono Program contacted her before the hearing and told her about the eviction clinic, she was anxious and overwhelmed.
At court, the situation became even more complicated: Beth appeared alongside the landlord and indicated that she also wanted Cassandra and the other occupants to leave.
Volunteer attorney Randall Clark stepped in to represent Cassandra through the eviction clinic, working alongside law student intern Olivia Henriques and with research support from 603 Legal Aid’s staff housing attorney Rebecca McKinnon and paralegal Steve McGilvary.
Together, the team identified a critical protection under New Hampshire law.
Manufactured housing parks are subject to additional requirements in eviction cases. Before evicting a resident for violating park rules, a landlord must first provide written notice of the violation and a reasonable opportunity to correct it.
At the hearing, the park manager acknowledged that Cassandra had not received that required notice before the eviction process began.
The legal aid team brought the requirement to the court’s attention — and the eviction was dismissed.
Cassandra and her family can remain in their home. With continued help from a volunteer attorney, she is now working toward having the lot lease transferred into her own name, providing greater stability for the future.
One legal issue. One volunteer attorney. A law student, staff attorney and paralegal working together. And one family that still has a place to call home.
This is what access to justice looks like, and what support for the NH Campaign for Legal Services makes possible throughout New Hampshire. Stories like this are possible because of our supporters. Donate today to support civil legal aid for Granite Staters in need.
