May 10th Fire Aftermath: Update On Our Commitments

Subject: Update on Commitments and Request for Understanding

To Whom It May Concern,
This is Sameena Fernandes and Scott Gallagher writing to you together for time efficiency purposes, with the assistance of ChatGPT.

As you may know, a fire recently occurred on May 10th in one of the rooms we share on a time-sharing basis at 10 Lisa Street, #2502. While we can only speculate about the cause of the fire, Dr. Goldberg has suggested in writing that our landlord may be responsible for it. If you need more details on our story, please let us know your questions, and we will get back to you within a week - or check every couple of weeks for updates.

We are entangled in numerous commitments and legal emergencies that jeopardize our income and stability. As self-employed individuals with disabilities, we rely heavily on our mutual caregiver agreement and Dr. Goldberg's unwavering support. His advocacy, which includes requests for a six-month administrative reprieve, has gone unanswered since multiple submissions dating back to June 2023.

Our inability to fulfill several commitments, made worse by unforeseen cancellations of appointments with Dr. Goldberg and the fire incident, has put us in a difficult situation. Below is a chronology of unfulfilled promises and the urgent tasks we must undertake to avoid eviction and further financial ruin.

Chronology of Agreements:

• April 1, 2022: An Ontario Works caseworker advised Scott to negotiate a rent reduction with me, resulting in a confirmed agreement on April 4, 2022. This arrangement required Scott to assume full accountability for representing me at a T2 harassment hearing against our landlord.
  
  
  • Email Confirmation:
    • Date: Mon, Apr 4, 2022, at 10:32 PM
    • Subject: YOUR RENT REDUCTION REQUEST
    • To: [email protected]
    • Cc: [email protected]
    • 
      
    "...the following is to confirm the details by which I agreed to reduce your portion of the rent from $907.53 down to $500 a month starting May 1st, 2022...taking into consideration that you have agreed to take on 100 percent accountability for acting as my agent against my landlord at an upcoming T2 hearing with the Landlord and Tenant Board on May 5th, 2022...And the fact that you have been acting in the capacity of my caregiver, supporting me through my anxiety, depression, and paranoia symptoms..."
  • Subsequent Events: The landlord's lawyer challenged the written hearing accommodation but did not win. Therefore, it is still a written hearing, but a date has yet to be set.
    
    

So this is Scott speaking now, and I just want to emphasize that 9 days after I gave Sameena notice that I was ending my tenancy with her for the reasons I stated to her over Zoom (which was recorded), Sameena made a heartfelt plea and proposal to me, which I agreed to in a video she took the time to prepare and send to me. Therefore, because I accepted this agreement for reduced rent, an agreement which was further confirmed in Dr. Goldberg's August 10th, 2023 letter, the spirit of the agreement is that I will not only support her but take on 100 percent accountability for her not getting evicted and winning her T2 case against her landlord. In order for her to win her T2 case against her landlord, I need to make sure she also wins the N5 and N7 attacks that are currently in the mail on their way to Sameena.

Dr. Goldberg’s March 28th letter requesting a 6-month Reprieve: Dr. Goldberg has been advocating for both of us to be granted a six-month reprieve. This request was initially made on June 15th, 2023, and continues to be crucial for us to manage our responsibilities effectively and to recover from the cumulative stress and disruptions we have faced.

In this letter, several promises were made, and we have been diligently working to fulfill these commitments. However, during our scheduled appointment last week, Dr. Goldberg informed us that he is taking time off from his practice and will not be available again until August 15th. This delay impacts our ability to move forward with several tasks and obligations that were dependent on this appointment, all of which are impacted greatly.

Promises and Commitments: We want to acknowledge the promises Dr. Goldberg made on our behalf in his March 28th letter, followed by an update on each:

Scheduled Tasks and Submissions:

• April 3rd, 2024: Wellbeing Agreement Revision
• April 18th, 2024: Submission to the Social Benefits Tribunal
• May 16th, 2024: Amendment to Landlord and Tenant Board Submission
• June 6th, 2024: Limits to Participation Form Submission for Scott Gallagher
• July 4th, 2024: Additional Submission to the Landlord and Tenant Board
• August 1st, 2024: ODSP Application for Scott Gallagher
• August 15th, 2024: Limits to Participation Form for Sameena Fernandes
• August 27th, 2024: Comprehensive Complaints to Human Rights Bodies
• September 24th, 2024: ODSP Application Submission for Sameena Fernandes
  
  

Immediate Issues: The fire and subsequent actions by our landlord and the insurance company have placed us in a critical position. The insurance company has refused to cover Scott’s losses, accepting the landlord’s narrative. This has led to the issuance of an N5 and N7 against me, blaming me for $250,000 in damages and attempting to divert attention from our harassment case.

Promises and Advocacy: Dr. Goldberg has persistently advocated for a six-month reprieve to enable us to stabilize our situation. His efforts, including multiple requests on our behalf, remain unaddressed. Our mutual caregiver agreement is vital for our mental health and daily functioning, necessitating comprehensive support and understanding from all involved parties.

Current Living Arrangements: Post-fire, we have relocated to Sameena’s parents' house, incurring additional expenses. The rent arrangement reflects the critical support Scott provides to Sameena, documented and supported by healthcare professionals.

Conclusion: We urge all involved parties, including insurance companies and government bodies, to acknowledge the substantial evidence of our landlord’s negligence and the profound impact on our mental health. We need time to compile and submit comprehensive documentation to support our claims.

Please address these urgent issues promptly to prevent further harm and ensure our stability.

Warm regards,

Sameena Fernandes
Scott Gallagher