EVICTED AT 80

EVICTED AT 80

“What allows me to overcome the emotional obstacles inherent in my work, is the belief that when people are confronted with images that evoke compassion, they will continue to respond, no matter how exhausted, angry or frustrated they may be.” – James Nachtwey

Not every story has a happy ending just as not every picture is easy to see. But it is when we become uncomfortable, we respond and react to the injustices faced by others. 

John and Rene Lacy were just two of many Silver Oaks Place residents given eviction notices in July of 2011. More than 200 senior residents had roughly two months to vacate their homes. These residents were living in handicapped accessible and rent controlled apartments for decades. 

John, 83, and Rene, 88, had lived there for 14 years and were married for 45. Rene became stressed with the pressure of being evicted and having to look for another rent controlled apartment with first floor handicapped accessibility. She later became sick with pneumonia and was hospitalized shortly after being faced with the tall task of moving-- she died Monday, Sept. 19 at 8:45 p.m. Her husband, Jon, believes the stress of the move contributed to her death:

“I don’t know what I’d do without her,” John said at the beginning of her hospital stay. The Lacy’s had planned to move into another apartment, but after losing his wife, John and his cat Buddy moved in with his daughter in Ravenna.