Adelia Martinez is tired of the Lott Housing Authority (LHA) consistently infringing on her lease.
After two years of living under the LHA, she claims that on August 17, 2023, her home’s air conditioning unit failed.
“I went 37 days without A/C,” Martinez explained. “This was during triple-digit heat last year.”
Martinez feels that LHA Executive Director Deborah Goffney started issuing unjustified infractions as a result of the A/C problem. Martinez also feels that her impairment is a reason for discrimination against her.
“I am dyslexic so that’s why my dad is pretty much my overseer,” Martinez shared. “I also have a physical disability, it’s called spinal muscular atrophy and it kills all of my spinal cords and my muscles.”
Martinez has had 17 leasing infractions since August 2023. A few of them include owning a pet, letting someone dwell in her house, neglecting to replace her housing, and not disclosing her second source of income. Martinez claims that these are also fake, along with the remaining 17 infractions.
Martinez never heard back from Goffney despite sending reply letters in response to each and every infraction she was given.
Martinez shared their experiences at several LHA board commissioner meetings, which she attended with her father Roy. Martinez claimed that Goffney and the commissioners had both denigrated and treated her father with disrespect.
“They can’t treat people this way,” Martinez added. “I have been having anxiety since this whole thing started.”
Martinez and her family allege that Goffney has discriminated against other families and that the Housing Authority is in flagrant violation of the Freedom of Speech, the Fair Housing Act, Section 504, and the Privacy Act.
Martinez has reached out to Congressman Pete Sessions, the Texas Department of Justice, and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to explain their predicament and request assistance. They have heard nothing back from anyone as of September 2.
Martinez collaborated with a Texas Workforce Civil Rights Division investigator as well. Their probe of the LHA has yielded no results thus far.
In response, Martinez retained the services of attorney Brandon Masin and sued the Housing Authority for retaliation and handicap discrimination. In a related lawsuit, Masin is also defending two additional tenants.
Martinez and another tenant sued the LHA back in July, and there was a pre-trial. All of them aspire to be a voice for the disabled population, who are hesitant to speak up while facing similar problems with the LHA.
“Half of these people are afraid to speak out and I guess I’m giving the voice to the disabled people and other residents here,” Martinez continued. “There are laws protecting you and if you don’t abide by the laws, this is what’s going to happen.”
In August 2024, Martinez was sent with her third notice of eviction. The LHA board commissioners then sued Martinez for failing to fulfil her annual certification requirements.
This trial is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. on September 5 in the Rosebud City Council office. Martinez’s ability to remain in her house will be determined at this point by the LHA.
“If I lose my court case I will be homeless and living in my car,” Martinez told 6 News.
At the trial, Roy Martinez is organising a demonstration in support of his daughter and the entire disability community. At nine in the morning, that demonstration will start.
Roy Martinez declared, “I’m asking all volunteers to come out and make their voices heard.”
Martinez’s legal trial against the LHA is scheduled to start in Marlin on September 25.
This lawsuit will probably end up in McLennan County federal court at some point in the future.
