Dear Friends,

In this edition of LAE’s newsletter, Delivering Justice, we’re thrilled to launch “They Made This City,” a storytelling series in recognition of the many contributions our clients have made to the fabric of San Francisco.

Unfortunately, too many seniors are relegated to a status of mistreatment and invisibility, despite having helped build San Francisco into the city we know and love today. Our work protects them and their communities. We are proud to bring their stories to you

Paul M. Carey Jr. is the first San Franciscan we’d like to recognize. A union leader and former press operator at the San Francisco Chronicle, Paul was nearly evicted as a 78-year old retiree from his rent-controlled apartment before he came to LAE.

LAE defended Paul in his eviction lawsuit, and today Paul continues to live safely in his long- term home. 

Born in New Jersey in 1943, Paul moved to the Bay Area to study law. He left his program early to become a police officer until he was shot and his partner was killed in the line of duty. The experience was jarring enough for Paul to seek a career change, joining a press operator apprenticeship program after being recruited while working as a janitor at the San Jose Mercury News. Upon completion of the apprenticeship program, Paul became a press operator for the Mercury News, Wall Street Journal, and the San Francisco Chronicle, eventually serving as Vice President of the International Typographic Union. Paul was the first black leader his union had ever elected.

THANK YOU Paul for contributing to making this city what it is today!

June 15th was World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, first recognized by the United Nations General Assembly in 2011. LAE fights against elder abuse in all of its forms – physical, financial, psychological, and neglect. Our dedicated elder abuse prevention staff offers a range of services for seniors experiencing abuse, including restraining orders, protection from financial exploitation and illegal transfers of real property.

Seniors are particularly at risk of financial abuse from those near to them, such as family members or caregivers. Seniors come to our office with bank accounts drained, with homes stolen or with the physical scars of abuse. We protect them through full-scope representation in financial abuse cases and with elder abuse restraining orders. We also try to prevent abuse through Know Your Rights presentations and with life planning services to protect seniors as they age and become more vulnerable to abuse.

In honor of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, please consider donating to LAE to help us keep these critical services going.

In the largest representative study of homelessness since the mid-1990s, the Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative at UCSF found that adults 50 and older are entering homelessness faster than any other age group. This trend is expected to continue, with the proportion of people age 65 and older experiencing homelessness to triple between 2017 and 2030.

We see this firsthand at LAE – 60% of the calls we receive are about threats to housing. 

Our services are critical to preventing homelessness, in the 494 eviction lawsuits we defended last year – 93% of the clients stayed housed!