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From YouTube: Zina Williams Testifies Before Philadelphia City Council on Philly Evictions 3-20-2017
Description
From the hearing of the Joint Committees on Licenses & Inspections and Public Health & Human Services held on Monday, March 20, 2017 to hear testimony on the following item:
Constituent Zina Williams testifies on evictions and tenant rights.
A
Hi,
my
name
is
Xena
Williams
I.
Thank
you
for
hearing
my
story:
I'm,
a
survivor
of
domestic
violence,
a
proud
mother
of
a
temple
university
student
suffering
from
serious
health
problems.
My
income
is
SSI,
which
are
7
24
a
month
last
year,
I
are
fleeing
from
domestic
fleeing
from
domestic
violence.
I
started
looking
for
an
apartment
at
the
time
my
son
was
was
with
me
and
was
attending
CCP
during
this
apartment.
A
Search
I
was
fortunate
to
be
able
to
stay
with
the
church
friend,
but
for
a
few
months
it
was
temporary
situation,
then
started
looking
for
an
apartment
after
afford
the
most.
I
could
afford
a
six
hundred
dollars
a
month.
I
looked
at
so
many
many
apartments
and
soon
discover
what
six
hundred
dollars
gave
me.
I
knew
I
couldn't
be
picky,
but
I
also
believe
my
son
and
I
deserve
to
live
in
a
place.
There
was
clean
and
see.
A
I
did
not
find
an
apartment
that
I
could
afford
and
we're,
and
there
we
were
problems,
but
the
landlord
promised
she
would
make
the
repairs.
During
this
time,
I
was
also
in
in
and
out
of
the
hospital
I
went
in
and
out,
because
the
stress
caused
by
my
heart,
atrial,
fibrillation
I
needed
to
have
some
I
needed
to
have
a
stable
home
for
me,
and
my
son
I
had
to
stop
count
searching
also
also
because
of
my
medical
problems.
I
knew
would
eventually
needs
surgery
and
I
just
had
my
surgery.
A
month
ago.
A
I
do
have
another
mess
of
my
Chester
needs
to
be
taken
out.
I
gave
the
landlord.
Previously
we
haue
gave
her
a
required
deposit,
those
first
last
month's
rent,
and
also
we
see
financials
sin
solution
settlement
house
which
head
which
it
gave
me
six
months
anyway.
I
was
supposed
to
move
in
July
the
first.
The
lease
was
a
muscle
month.
I
have
photos,
do
you
have
the
photos?
A
Jenna
cutter,
okay,
the
photos
so
that
you
will
see
the
condition
of
the
apartment
before
I
moved
in
the
landlord
promised
she
would
have
the
apartment
clean
job,
but
a
lot
of
first
came
and
I
communicated
with
the
landlord
that
I
could
not
move
in
with
these
conditions.
I
text
to
her
promises-
and
she
never
did
anything,
including
the
dirt
to
grease
the
walls.
The
kitchen
broken
smoke,
detectors,
filthy
bathroom,
damaged
floors.
The
stove,
as
n
was
in
a
disarray
covered
with
grease
the
floor.
A
Tiles
were
loose
many
after
many
attempts
to
have
the
landlord
made
to
make
the
apartment
inhabitable
as
she
did
not
I
had
no
choice
but
to
move
in
so
man.
My
son
can
stay
together
because
he
was
on
his
way
of
college
I.
Do
not
talk
to
the
landlord
about
I
talked
to
the
landlord
about
reducing
the
ring,
because
I
knew
I
would
have
a
major
cleanup.
She
agreed
I
never
I
cleaned
the
apartment
best
I
could
and
moved
in
July
tonight.
A
If
you
look
at
the
conditions
of
the
stove,
even
after
cleaning
the
stove,
it
did
not
work.
It
took
me
more
than
a
week
for
the
landlord
to
respond.
Gas
company
came
out
and
tagged
the
soul
uncie.
Finally,
the
landlord
assault
in
his
stole.
I
also
had
no
hot
water
for
over
two
weeks,
so
totally
did
not
flush.
I
still
does
not
flush
properly
after
moving
in
I.
Also
after
moving
in
I
also
gave
her
a
handwritten
letter.
A
Listening
listing
the
cautions
of
problems
with
the
apartment
and
then
I
received
a
handwritten
letter
from
the
landlord
under
the
door
after
around
july
to
12th
the
letter
was
dated
a
lot
of
first.
I
like
you
to
read
the
letter.
As
in
all
of
my
relationships
with
my
tenant,
I
strive
to
have
a
positive
and
happy
fulfilling
relationship.
I
have
not
been
able
to
accomplish
this
with
you
after
this
is
only
after
15
days
to
notice
there
I'm
being
terminated
from
my
lease.
A
Please
vacate
the
premises
within
15
days,
the
landlord
filled
filed
the
eviction
complaint
on
august
of
16.
The
certification
of
rental
suitability
was
attached,
but
it
was
launched
a
lot
of
20
seconds.
This
was
the
first
time.
I
saw
the
certificate
for
certification,
the
landlord.
The
reason
the
landlord
gave
the
eviction
was
a
fiction
evicting
me
because
I
was
refusing
to
suffer
surrender
premises
of
the
properties.
I.
A
A
And
my
legal,
the
legal
aide
referred
me
to
legal,
the
legal
counsel
for
disability
and
they
helped
me
out
a
lot
so
I
wouldn't
get
evicted,
but
that
apartment
is
still
in
really
messed
up
conditions,
but
I
have
no
other
choice.
Where
can
I
go
besides
a
shelter
and
I'm
suffering
from
a
lot
of
medical
issues
which
I
cannot
go
into
a
public?
So
if
I
do
I'll
probably
die.