CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte woman could be evicted through no fault of her own. She said several money orders mailed to her landlord were stolen.
Danita Story is a single mother of three who now finds herself in an unfortunate situation. If she is evicted, she has nowhere to go.
Story said she's always paid her rent with a money order.
“I’ve been doing that for almost nine years now," Story said.
Back in February, she got money orders at a U.S. Post Office on Wilkinson Boulevard, totaling $2,500 to cover her rent. She thought the money was sent and received until she heard from her landlord.
“My landlord never received them,” Story said.
Story showed WCNC Charlotte's Lexi Wilson the money order receipts, saying they were altered and cashed.
“I didn’t do this," Story said. "I’m trying to keep my house for my family."
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to WCNC Charlotte by emailing money@wcnc.com.
She filed a police report with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, as well as the U.S. Postal Inspector. While they investigate, she now finds herself several months behind in rent, and an eviction looming over her head.
“It’s very hard because I’m a single parent and like I worked hard for that money, and to pay this rent to my landlord and he didn’t receive it now I have to come up with the next month's rent and it's going to take a while,” Story said.
WCNC Charlotte's Lexi Wilson asked Jonathan Slager, staff attorney with Legal Aid of North Carolina who handles evictions cases, if there was anything Story can do.
He said if a tenant doesn't pay, landlords have the right to evict, no matter the circumstances.
“Life just happens, sadly that’s the effects of it," Slager said. “It’s really heartbreaking because who knows why they needed that money, maybe they needed to pay their own rent, but in the meantime, we have this tenant who can’t pay her rent and she’s going to face the ramifications of that.”
Now, Story could find herself and her children without a roof over their heads.
“I don’t blame him [her landlord], it’s just hard knowing that had to happen when I did my part," Story said. “I’m very scared cause I don’t have anywhere else to go with my kids.”
Experts say if you find yourself unable to pay your rent or face a possible eviction, to be in constant communication with your landlord and show up to your court date.
If you do need rental assistance Charlotte-area nonprofits like the Salvation Army, Good Fellows, Good Friends, United Way, Crisis Assistance Ministry can help.
Contact Lexi Wilson at lwilson@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
This story is part of ‘I Can’t Afford to Live Here,’ a collaborative reporting project focused on solutions to the affordable housing crisis in Charlotte. WCNC Charlotte is committed to reporting on the issues facing the communities we serve, including affordability. We tell the stories of people working to solve persistent social problems. We examine how problems can be solved or addressed to improve the quality of life and make a positive difference. WCNC Charlotte is seeking solutions for you by providing the following assistance programs in Charlotte:
HOME ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS IN CHARLOTTE