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EVIDENCE
First purchased by his grandmother in 1942, Ronald Henry has lived in his family's San Antonio, Texas legacy home for 42 years since 1978. For a majority of his life, this has been the only home Ronald has ever known.
* The source audio interview with Mr. Henry was recorded July 27th, 2021.
Starting in August of 2019, strange mail with offers to buy his home began arriving to Ronald's house. Inititally, Ronald didn't pay these letters any mind until...
...one day, he receives an envelope directly from an attorney, informing him that his client now owns 50% of the house -- this client being a trustee of the San Antonio Arts and Entertainment Revocable Trust.
As it turns out, Ronald's brother -- who had a 50% stake in the house -- sold his share to the trust, unbeknownst to Ronald. Now, they are coming to collect on the rest of their stake...and fast. To Ronald, it's an ambush. Who could he turn to on such short notice?
With the walls seemingly closing in, Ronald begins to feel hopeless. However, when he notices an ad for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TLRA) in a senior directory and gets in contact, their message to him is simple: resist!
While the trustee's legal representation escalate tactics and attempt to charge Ronald rent, Ronald now has his own legal protection on his side through the support of TRLA and his own community.
Now that he's not fighting alone, Ronald doesn't feel as overwhelmed. The willingness of TRLA to fight for his plight reignites hope that Ronald can win this case and resist commodification of his home as gentrification begins to overtake the neighborhood.
As of 2022, with the help of legal representation and advocacy, Ronald is still the homeowner of his beloved family home and the matter has been resolved amicably.
In light of his legal win, Ronald continues to advocate for other elders who want to live out their lives peacefully in their homes. He hopes to pass along his home to his son and grandchild, keeping his grandmother's legacy alive for generations to come.

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