Client
My experience with Aimee Goddard from Legal Aid of West Virginia was extremely discouraging, frustrating, and ultimately left me feeling abandoned during one of the most stressful housing situations I have ever faced. I reached out to Legal Aid because I was experiencing serious issues in my apartment--ongoing mouse infestations, flooding coming from the apartment next door, dangerous dishwasher leaks, and clear retaliation from the property manager after I made legitimate maintenance complaints. Instead of receiving strong advocacy, my case felt minimized, rushed, and ultimately closed without real assistance. From the beginning, I shared documents, photos, and details about my living conditions, including multiple instances where I had to clean up water and protect my belongings from damage. I also shared that my property manager had been harassing me and ignoring maintenance requests, and that the problems I was dealing with were not caused by me at all--they were coming from the neighboring unit. Despite all of this, I felt like my concerns were reduced to a brief summary, and the actual severity of my situation was not taken seriously. Aimee stated that she spoke to my landlord, and based on HIS statements alone, she accepted claims that the mice were "taken care of" and that repairs were supposedly offered. None of that was accurate in my lived experience. The mice issue was ongoing. The water intrusion continued. The dishwasher problem was still unresolved. My landlord had not fixed the problems. Instead of digging deeper or verifying anything, the letter seemed to rely on the landlord's word over the reality I was living in every day. What hurt the most was how quickly my case was closed, despite the fact that I continued to experience unsafe conditions and retaliation. I wasn't asking for miracles--I was asking for help, guidance, and real advocacy so I wouldn't have to handle this situation alone. Instead, I was told to file a Magistrate Court complaint by myself. For someone already overwhelmed with housing issues, disability concerns, and retaliation from a landlord, this response felt like being passed off rather than supported. Communication also felt minimal and impersonal. I didn't feel guided, defended, or reassured. I didn't feel like my health, safety, or peace of mind mattered. Instead, I felt treated like just another case that needed to be pushed through the system as fast as possible. I understand Legal Aid is understaffed, overworked, and dealing with extreme demand. But the way my case was handled made me feel unseen, unheard, and unprotected. This was not the help I expected or needed, especially in a time of crisis. I left the experience with more stress than when I started, and with the disappointing realization that I had to face my landlord and his retaliation alone.