'Guess Who's Moving? You!’

[TLO]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/people....ou/%3famp=true

Mom of 2 Given Insensitive Eviction Notice Featuring Smiling Emoji: 'Guess Who's Moving? You!’
Sonja Lee tells PEOPLE she had been struggling to find a job and kept in communication with property managers before receiving the notice



The 33-year-old tells PEOPLE she lost her job following the pandemic's start and has been applying to jobs using online services. Making matters worse, Lee says she was recently hired for a job that turned out to be a "scam," and was left three months behind rent because of the setback.

"I was overwhelmed because, to be honest, I felt like I was in a big hole and I couldn't get out of it because I was set back so much," says Lee, who lives at The Steeples apartment complex in Houston. "So it's like, I'm a single mother with two boys. I do the best that I can and am a very hard-working woman."

"I was scared," she adds. "I didn't know what I was going to do after exhausting all of my resources from calling 211, local health assistance, and wasn't able to get through, I didn't know what to do."

Lee says she kept in communication with property managers about her situation, which improved when she was hired for a job set to begin on Aug. 24.

But on Monday afternoon, Lee found the eviction notice on her door.

"Guess who's moving? You!!!" the message began, followed by a large smiling emoji. "Pay your outstanding balance, or release your apartment and turn in your keys to the leasing office by 6:00 p.m. today. Eviction will be filed promptly Tuesday morning, 8/18/2020."

The notice, and the insensitivity in how it was delivered, was a punch to the gut during a painful chapter for her family, Lee says.

"I was mad, I ain't going to lie," she recalls of receiving the letter. "I didn't think it was funny at all. I felt like they were antagonizing the tenants through the situation and it was heartless, especially during a pandemic."

"A lot of people have lost their jobs," Lee continues. "A lot of people aren't able to get the resources. I was denied unemployment five times."

After local news stations picked up Lee's story, Swapnil Agarwal, CEO of Karya Property Management — which operates The Steeples complex — apologized on behalf of the company.

"Buck stops with me, so yes, I do personally apologize," Agarwal told KTRK. "I wish I had the time and the resources to reach out personally to every one of them who have dealt with any issues at our properties. But I am apologizing personally in case it was insensitive, and if she was really trying to work out a payment program with the property or that she was in communication with the manager, then I accept it's truly our fault."

Agarwal told the outlet the manager who wrote the eviction letter has been "reprimanded." Lee is also not under eviction, she added.

Lee said a regional manager with Karya Property Management — which did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment — reached out to her and apologized for the incident.

Since sharing her story, Lee has started a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for her and her two children, 2-year-old Sean and 12-year-old Patrick, which has raised over $11,500. It has helped to rekindle her spirits, she says.

"Despite what you may go through, the trials and tribulations that might be thrown at you, never give up," Lee explains. "When it feels like you don't have nothing else left in you, that's when blessings will start pouring. So when you feel like there's nothing left, if you have faith, keep your faith, stay strong, and just stay positive because blessings are real and miracles do happen within a blink of an eye."

[Rain Man]

I've read articles that say that we'll have a massive wave of evictions coming at some point as the unemployment ends and eviction moratoriums end. I'm not so sure about that.

I think we'll see an increase, certainly. But most people prioritize housing over everything else when it comes to paying bills. People figure out ways to make it work, because no one wants to pack and move. My bet is that it'll be notably smaller than the dire warnings.

[Garcia Bronco]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Stupid move by whoever wrote that thing. Highly insensitive.

She is over $30K on her GoFundMe page now: https://www.gofundme.com/f/praying-f...make-ends-meet

Then it worked out.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by Iowanian

I'm going to be honest, I side with the landlords most of the time.

Pay your bills. Prioritize your spending. Food and shelter should be her first priority.
In my entire life, I've never missed a payment. Not once.
The one time I didn't drop my rent off on a friday as planned, and hadn't been late a single time in 2 years, my landlord beat on the door with his hand out sunday night a few minutes after we all returned from the weekend. He was an asshole about it, but the rent was due and it was the 3rd.

Lady received stimulus check in addition to any unemployment/assistance, and if they're far enough into the process that they can legally remove her the next day, this isn't her first notice and she's months behind.

Notice says it will be filed Tuesday, not sure about Texas but here in NE once filed, the process usually takes about 6 weeks.

[Bugeater]

Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider

She lost her job at the beginning of the pandemic. What did she do with 6 months of unemployment that paid her +$600 a week? Or was she working some sort of cash only gig? Only way this makes any sense.

Otherwise she squandered her COVID money instead of paying her bills.

Yep, as usual with this type of story, there's something not being told.

[scho63]

Originally Posted by Hydrae

Stupid move by whoever wrote that thing. Highly insensitive.

She is over $30K on her GoFundMe page now: https://www.gofundme.com/f/praying-f...make-ends-meet

Unless she wrote it herself and now she is $30K ahead minus the rent.

[TLO]

She's got 40k in Go****Me cash now

https://www.gofundme.com/f/praying-f...5fYNkmHQ58edyM

[Dayze]

it'll definitely be spent on back rent. and definitely not a new SUV.

[LoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Dayze

it'll definitely be spent on back rent. and definitely not a new SUV.

But, but, she deserves spinner rims on her brand new Escalade because she got a nasty note!