Know Your Rights: Employment and Housing Presented By: Hartford Equal Justice Collaborative

Introduction: Overview The Hartford Equal Justice Collaborative (HEJC) What is HEJC? CT Alliance for Basic Human Needs (CABHN) CT Women’s Education and Legal Fund (CWEALF) Statewide Legal Services (SLS)

Introduction: Objective The goal of this workshop is to tell you about: Housing Security Deposits Repairs Eviction Discrimination Subsidized Housing Employment Criminal Record Pardons Unemployment Compensation Keeping a Job Medical & Pregnancy Leave

Introduction: Expectations This workshop will: Provide you with general information Connect you to resources Answer general questions to the best of our ability

Security Deposits Before you move in… The landlord can ask you to pay the first month’s rent and a security deposit equal to 2 months of your rent If you are 62 or older…. Landlord can only charge you one month’s rent for security deposit Pay w/ a check or money order and take photos or make notes about any problems When you move out… Take notes/photos of any problems with the apartment Write a letter to the landlord asking him to return your security deposit. Your letter must list a mailing address where you can receive the check. Make 3 copies of your letter: Mail 2 copies to the landlord separately. 1 Certified, 1 Regular Mail + 1 Copy keep for your records. *If there’s a new landlord-You have the right to get your security deposit back from the new landlord.

Security Deposits How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit? Up to 30 days after receiving your letter with your new address Returns your deposit minus the itemized cost of repairs to damages in your apartment. *If the landlord does not return your deposit or give you the list of repairs w/in 30 days, he must pay you double. (Security Deposit + Interest x2) If they don’t return the security deposit you can: Sue the landlord in Small Claims Court -or- file a complaint w/ the Banking Department, 260 Constitution Plaza, Htfd.

Paying Your Rent *Tips to help you stay in your apartment: Pay by check or money order by the 10th of each month (or 5th day of each week if you rent weekly) If you don’t pay by the deadline, the landlord can charge a late fee Always write “Rent in full for the month of (or week) of___”. Keep good records Do Not pay cash! *Tips to help you stay in your apartment: Never stop paying rent, even if there are problems with your apartment or you are angry with your landlord. Never ignore or tear up legal papers.

Rent Increases When can the landlord raise my rent? If you do not have a written lease, your landlord can raise the rent at any time. Exception: Your landlord is not allowed to raise your rent or decrease services, like utilities) if in the last 6 months you: Complained to the health department, housing code office, or the Fair Rent Commission Filed Court Papers b/c your landlord isn’t making needed repairs Asked your landlord to make repairs in your apartment

Repairs If your apartment has broken windows, plumbing, electrical or other problems: Write a letter to your landlord listing all needed repairs Keep a copy of your letter for your records If they don’t make needed repairs: Call 211 to get a Code Enforcement Officer to inspect your apartment *If your landlord does not fix the problems within 21 days of your complaint, you can pay your rent to the court.

Your Landlord Must Your landlord must follow all health and safety laws so the building, apartments and common areas are safe, including: Make all repairs needed to keep your apt. fit and liveable Keep all electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilation appliances, and other features (i.e. elevators, appliances working and safe). Provide containers for trash and arrange for its removal. Supply heating, running water, and hot water Repair cracked, chipped or peeling paint. Remove paint that contains dangerous and illegal amounts of lead.

You (the renter) must: Follow all housing and fire codes Keep your apartment clean and safe Put all trash in the containers Use all services and facilities, such as the elevator, laundry room, and heating reasonably. Not destroy, damage, or take any property or allow anyone else to do so. Not disturb your neighbors or allow any of your guests to do so. Obey all of your landlord’s rules if they are reasonable, clear, apply to all tenants and you were told about the rule(s). Pay the rent, even if your apartment needs repairs. Let the landlord into your apartment, if the request to go in is reasonable.

Discrimination Whether you are renting or buying a home, you have the right to choose where you live. Landlords can’t discriminate because of your Race, religion, national origin, color, Family, if you have children, are married or single Sexual orientation or gender identity, or Disability

Eviction You can be evicted if You don’t pay your rent You DO NOT have a lease and your landlord wants you out for any reason You broke your lease or the law, i.e. sold drug there or damaged the apartment

Eviction Process How can I get evicted? You receive a “Notice to Quit” from a Marshall asking you to leave by a certain date (doesn’t mean you have to leave). THEN You receive a Summons & Complaint Go to the Clerk’s Office & file an Appearance & Answer Go to Court you and your landlord will meet w/ a Housing Mediator *If no agreement is made you will go to trial and the Judge will decide your case.

Subsidized Housing To receive notification of subsidized housing openings: Contact 211 United Way Get on our CABHN Mailing List

Working with a Criminal Record What can an employer find out? Arrests from the last 7 years Any convictions (no matter when they happened). Help finding a job: STRIVE offers a three-week job readiness course that includes case management, job leads and two years of follow-up support.  Bridgeport, 350 Fairfield Ave., (203) 610-8678; Hartford, 28 Sargeant St., (860) 560-0351; New Haven, 746 Chapel St., (203) 777-1720 ReEntry Works is open to anyone on parole in Connecticut who is not a resident or participant in another DOC work release program. It assists former offenders in increasing skills and gaining jobs to succeed in the workforce. (203) 952-3265.

Pardons Provisional Pardons & Certificate of Rehabilitation- not absolute but says you are employable and should be considered for the job regardless of your record Board of Pardons & Parole Phone: 203-805-6643 To Apply for Pardons: 5 year wait to apply for misdemeanors 7 year wait to apply for felonies

Unemployment Compensation If you left a job, apply for unemployment as soon as possible. You should apply even if: You quit, were laid off, or fired, You worked as an independent contractor or were paid cash, You do not have any papers to prove you were working, or Your boss said you are not eligible. Apply online at www.ct.gov/dol, or call: 860-263-6785 (English or Spanish). Apply right away! You do not need any papers or “pink slip” to apply!

Unemployment Compensation If you were laid off, you should get unemployment right away. If you were fired or quit, you may have to give more information at a hearing. If you were fired, your boss must prove why you should not get unemployment. If you quit, you must prove that you had a good reason to quit, and that: You can work now and are looking for a job. Quitting was the only reasonable thing to do. Before you quit, you told (or tried to tell) your boss about the problem. Or you did not say anything because it would not have helped.

Keeping a Job Most jobs are at will. That means your employer can fire you at any time, for any reason, BUT It is illegal discrimination to be fired because of your race, religion, national origin, color; gender, pregnancy; sexual orientation, gender identity; or any kind of disability. It is illegal to be fired if you take time off for family or medical leave as allowed by the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); report illegal activities at work, such as health and safety violations or discrimination; apply for worker’s compensation; refuse to work under dangerous conditions; or go to a court hearing because you (or a relative) need a restraining order or are a victim of a crime.

Medical Leave Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) May give you the right to take time off from work to care for a child, parent, spouse or yourself with a serious health problem It is UNPAID Your health benefits will continue and you can get your job back when the leave is over Federal FMLA gives you 12 weeks of unpaid leave per 12-month period. State FMLA gives you16 weeks of unpaid leave per 24-month period Federal FMLA covers you if there are 50+ employees at your workplace, and you have worked 1250 hours during the last 12 months, not counting vacation, holidays, or sick leave The state FMLA covers you if there are 75+ employees at your workplace, and you have worked 1000 hours during the last 12 months, not counting vacation, holidays, or sick leave You can take FMLA in a way that meets the sick person’s medical needs. For example, you can take it all at once, as needed, or reduce your regular hours so you can go to weekly doctor’s appointments.

Pregnancy Leave Mom can use sick leave or disability leave (if she has it) for PAID pregnancy and maternity leave. Both parents may be able to take up to16 weeks of UNPAID leave under FMLA.  The amount of leave you can take depends on the type of company you work for, how many employees work there, and how long you’ve worked there.    Both parents can take unpaid leave after the birth to care for the child.   Mom can take unpaid leave before the birth if she has complications related to your pregnancy.

Questions ?

Thank You! Wrap-up Resources available in packets Evaluations Please fill out an evaluation before you leave Thank You!