Letters

It ought to be a crime for any landlord to evict a senior tenant from their home in which they have lived for more than 35 years.

This is what happened to me last September. I am 77 years old and was a perfect tenant. I always paid rent on time, had no loud parties and paid all maintenance costs for 30 of those years. Additionally, over the years. I upgraded the property, both inside and out, for a cost of about $50,000.

A couple of years before COVID, my landlord raised my rent 55 percent. I was shocked but continued to pay, which depleted most of my savings.

In March 2020, I fell, broke bones in my left leg, shattered my foot, and spent 90 days in rehab. Surgery was not done due to COVID.

When I returned home from rehab, I applied for affordable housing, as I could no longer work. Some months later, my landlord approached me, said he didn’t like me, wanted me out, so that he could charge $3,000 a month rent. Of course, I couldn’t pay that. A court case was settled last August, and I was given three weeks to vacate.

Alone, with no one to help me, and unable to afford movers or storage for my possessions, I lost everything. I walked away with my clothes and a jewelry box.

After living in hotels for a couple of months, I happened to call a woman I’ve known for years. She offered me a room in Hampton Bays. I’ve been here since November 2023. The bad news is that her son needs the room on June 1. So, once again, I will be homeless.

The situation out here is dire. Landlords cater to the rich. Rents have skyrocketed, forcing many folks to move away. Now, squatters take over empty homes, trash them and refuse to leave. Not to mention the thousands of asylum seekers coming to our country and getting free living spaces, while many seniors, like me, can’t find a home.

When I moved to Southampton 40 years ago (to write children’s books), Southampton was a beautiful village by the sea, long inhabited by local homeowners and business owners. It was a desirable and affordable place to live.

How it has changed over the years. It’s now a playground for the ultra-rich. Modest older homes are being torn down and replaced with mega-mansions that take up the entire property. Now, even a room to rent is going for over $1,500 a month.

I can’t believe this is my life at 77.

For now, I have a fine place to live, but I worry endlessly. June will be here soon. And then what?

Dianne Moritz

Hampton Bays