Our clients, a retired farmworker and his spouse, lived in USDA rural development housing. He came to Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) for help after the landlord moved to evict the couple, claiming the spouse was no longer employed as a farmworker and therefore no longer qualified under 7 CFR 3560.159. FRLS is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide.
Although the client is a retired farmworker and qualified for the housing, the landlord claimed he failed to disclose farmwork income during his 2022 certification and each year after. As a result, he received a 30‑day Notice to Vacate and a Notice of Lease Violation.
FRLS invoked the client’s rights under 7 CFR 3560.160 to challenge both notices. While waiting for the grievance hearing, FRLS visited the client twice, gathered documents from his home, created an ID.me account for him, and accompanied the client and his spouse to the Social Security Administration office.
FRLS then provided the landlord with documentation dating back to 2015, including W‑2s, pay stubs, and tax transcripts, along with a detailed explanation. The landlord accepted the information and agreed to process the certification, extending the client’s lease as a retired farmworker. The couple can now remain in their home, and FRLS’s intervention prevented the client from losing affordable housing and becoming homeless.
FRLS has been providing free legal services to qualified farmworkers across Florida since 1966. Reach out to us at 1-888-582-3410 or apply online at FRLS.org for help.
About Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS):
Florida Rural Legal Services, Inc. (FRLS) is a non-profit law firm that provides free civil legal aid to qualified individuals, families, and vulnerable communities across 13 Florida counties and to farmworkers statewide. Since 1966, FRLS has pursued justice by providing legal services in
housing law, family law, consumer protection, public benefits, elder law, disaster relief, education law, and more, all at no cost to our clients. FRLS collaborates with community organizations and Pro Bono attorneys to deliver quality advocacy, outreach, and education designed to protect the rights of those in need. For over 50 years, FRLS has been a steadfast advocate for justice. Learn more at www.FRLS.org.