Amy, a resident of Alamance County and formerly incarcerated woman, is facing evictions along with thousands of other families across the country. We wanted to highlight her story because she is part of our community and we want to uplift the unique struggles that people with criminal records face during this housing crisis.
Here is Amy’s story:
Tell us more about yourself:
I’m a mom of 5 and an arts & craft enthusiast. I’m a social justice activist, animal lover, and believer in humanity.
What is happening with your housing situation?
In October 2020, our landlord informed us she would not be renewing our lease. We had planned on staying here until we could buy a house so we weren’t prepared at all for this to happen.
What does an eviction mean for you?
When we faced eviction before we just found another place to live — facing eviction in a pandemic is totally different because there are no open houses.
What does finding housing look like when you have a criminal record? It’s virtually impossible unless you find a sympathetic landlord. Our charges are seven years old and we still have trouble passing the application process for most rental companies.
What are your hopes for the next few years for you personally?
Where do you want to be after this battle? I’d like to be a homeowner — we are currently working on rebuilding our credit so we can achieve this. I’d also like to live on a farm & start an animal rescue.
To learn more about Amy’s battle, check out the following links below:
- Vice: These 5 Moms Facing Eviction Are Putting Biden on Notice: ‘Nobody’s Leaving’
- Times News: Local activists call attention to local housing rights in Graham Protest
