From Panic to Plan

Last week, I had a meeting with Marco (this is a fictitious name to protect his privacy). He is a rideshare driver who resides in Oak Cliff with his mom. When his car needed repairs, his income dropped, and he fell behind on rent. 

 Before volunteering with Escape Eviction, I was not aware that Texas eviction timelines move so fast. When you receive a notice to vacate, it can give you as little as three days to move out. Then, hearings can happen within 10 to 21 days after the petition is filed. That speed converts ordinary trouble into emergencies.

Luckily, Marco’s panic turned into an effective plan during his consultation with us. We referred him to a free legal clinic and, at the lawyer’s request, encouraged him to communicate with the landlord early on. 

We established a connection to legal and community resources. Legal assistance can make a difference if an eviction case has been filed. We guided Marco to the Dallas Eviction Advocacy Center and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, as well as local partners such as For Oak Cliff. 

Escape Eviction assisted Marco in creating a straightforward, honest, and specific message that included when payment would be received. I have found that many landlords prefer to get paid rather than engage in a court filing, but they need communication to reassure them first.

With additional support from our emergency fund, Marco’s car was back on the road with a payment agreement – and an eviction lawsuit was no longer affixed to his name.

If you find yourself falling behind on rent, please contact us immediately. We are always here to turn panic into a plan.