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Dear MHAS Supporter, In this month's newsletter, I'd like to highlight our fair housing team's critical work of ensuring that people with mental health disabilities remain housed and have access to the reasonable accommodations that they need and to which they are legally entitled. Loss of income, social isolation, and increased stress and anxiety caused by the pandemic pose threats to tenants with mental health disabilities. As public health officials ask us to stay home as much as possible to reduce the spread of COVID-19, MHAS attorneys continue providing free legal advice and counsel to ensure that both tenants and their landlords are aware of their rights and responsibilities. Continue reading to learn more about how MHAS is rising to the challenge to meet our clients' specific housing legal needs. Thank you so much for supporting our work. Sincerely, Jenny Farrell Executive Director

Helping Muffin Stay

Roberto and Devi have a bright-eyed third grader named Nina who is currently attending school virtually. During her annual check-up, Roberto and Devi mentioned to Nina's doctor that she was having trouble coping with social isolation. At the doctor's suggestion, Roberto and Devi brought home Muffin to serve as Nina's emotional support animal. Since joining the family, Muffin has helped significantly improve Nina's spirits and overall well-being.

Unfortunately, the family's landlord tried to enforce the "no pet" policy when he saw Muffin. Roberto had a feeling that there were legal protections for animals like Muffin, but he wasn't sure where to even get started. Roberto came to MHAS for counsel, where he learned that emotional support animals are not considered pets. He also learned that he could submit a reasonable accommodation request to his landlord to allow Muffin to stay.

With guidance from MHAS, Roberto presented his landlord with a note from Nina's doctor and a reasonable accommodation letter explaining the rules governing emotional support animals. The landlord responded by acknowledging the benefit of emotional support animals and by restructuring the "no pet" policy to accommodate Nina and Muffin. Today, Roberto and Devi are happy knowing that Nina is doing better and that she has made a new friend despite the pandemic.

Upcoming Fair Housing Training

Join MHAS and LACBA Veterans Legal Services Project on Tuesday, December 15 for a free Zoom training on Fair Housing Protections for Veterans. The training will also discuss the recent updates related to the COVID-19 Emergency Protections. If you have any questions about this training, please contact MHAS Supervising Attorney Naomi Sultan at [email protected].

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2020 Virtual Annual Celebration

Thank you to our ticketed guests for joining us live this past October 21st to hear directly from one of our housing clients, celebrate our 2020 Honorees, and learn about MHAS' work over the past year. CLICK HERE TO STREAM THE FULL EVENT. Our work cannot be fully captured in 60 minutes, but we truly hope that this event provides you with an insight into how your support helps us advance our mission and ensures that we can serve as many people as possible every year. HIGHLIGHTS: Housing Success Story | Advocates Award |Mayor Garcetti Executive Director Message | Jim Preis Memorial Award