Livia Arvuga raised three children. She is the primary caretaker for her adult son Robert, who was born with a progressive genetic condition called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Now 29 years old, Robert requires extensive medical equipment, including a ventilator, G-tube for feeding, and a lift is attached to his medical bed, which is used so that his mother can address his bedding, wound care, and to put him in his electric wheelchair.

In 2020, Livia found a house to rent that could accommodate Robert’s medical equipment, visiting nurses, and additional needs.

Unfortunately, just two years later, a new owner purchased the home she rented. When the new landlord informed Livia that she had to move; Livia was unable to find a unit that could accommodate Robert’s needs. Meanwhile, the landlord stopped making repairs to the property. This caused the unit to fail inspection three times, putting the family’s housing voucher in jeopardy.

Livia’s new landlord began eviction proceedings in the spring of 2023. Recognizing that the family needed legal intervention, one of Robert’s medical providers at UMass Memorial Medical Center referred Livia to CLA’s Medical-Legal Project Coordinating Attorney Marina Abraham.

Attorney Abraham teamed up with Michelin Cahill, Senior Supervising Attorney for CLA’s Fair Housing Project. After months of settlement talks, court hearings, and accommodation requests, the eviction case went to trial.

At the trial, Attorney Cahill first elicited testimony from Worcester Housing Authority about the landlord’s failure to repair defective conditions. Next, Attorney Cahill called Robert’s doctor, who testified to Robert’s conditions, his end-stage prognosis, and the risk to his life that a move would pose.

At that point, the landlord’s attorney asked the court for a break and the attorneys worked out a settlement.

Under the settlement agreement, Robert and Livia will be allowed to remain in the home for the remainder of Robert’s life. Livia will then have an additional six months to move after Robert passes away. The landlord also agreed to fix the remaining condition issues and sign the necessary paperwork for reinstatement of Livia’s housing voucher.

This case took a tremendous amount of time and coordination between CLA staff and the UMass Memorial health providers to present a winning case for Livia and Robert. The family can now focus on the remainder of their time with Robert.

Livia said, “I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have been represented by your office. I know that your work has made a lasting difference in my life, my family’s life, and many others.

“The work you do is truly essential. It continues to inspire me, and I am forever grateful for that.”

Read more stories like this one in Community Legal Aid's Fiscal Year 2024 Annual Report.

Justice in June Giving Days 2025 supporting Community Legal Aid

Justice in June Giving Days 2025

Justice in June Giving Days 2025 supporting Community Legal Aid