Pamela and Her Cat Trevor Need Urgent Help!

Hello, wonderful supporters! My name is Pamela Ehn, and I find myself trapped in a distressing situation that I desperately need your help to overcome. Today, I am reaching out to you with an earnest plea for assistance in navigating the challenges that life has thrown my way.

Since 2020, I have been enduring an unimaginable ordeal that was never of my own making. You see, a few tenants in my Brooklyn apartment building started excessively smoking marijuana in the stairwell, creating an unbearable environment for someone like me who suffers from asthma. As if my struggle with COVID wasn't enough, this relentless exposure to smoke has worsened my respiratory condition. Despite my polite requests for them to smoke in their own apartments or outside, they not only ignored me but even escalated their harassment towards me. Shockingly, my landlord has refused to take any meaningful action against these troublesome tenants, simply advising me to contact the police. Regrettably, the authorities have no enforcement mechanism to address violations of the NY Smoke Free Air Act, which prohibits smoking in public areas of buildings. Smokers cannot be arrested or even ticketed, leaving me caught in a never-ending cycle of fruitless calls to the police and unresponsive landlord. My attempts to seek help from various agencies and councilpersons have been met with nothing more than frustrating runarounds.

The situation gradually deteriorated to the point where, starting in April 2022, I found myself landing in the hospital every single week. Working from home, I had no respite from the smoke, and even attempting to navigate the stairwell became a perilous endeavor. I was effectively trapped within the confines of my own apartment, cut off from the outside world, and unable to access my mail. People often asked me why I didn't move, but how could I when leaving my apartment posed such a severe risk to my health? To alleviate the situation, I invested in two air purifiers, which, although they helped to some extent, were unable to fully address the problem (not to mention the doubled electric bill!). The pervasive smell of marijuana invaded my living space to such an extent that I was unable to taste or smell my own food, making it impossible to fully enjoy the flavorful meals I prepared. Everything I ate tasted like marijuana. The air quality was consistently so poor that I had to change the air purifier filters every two months instead of the expected six. In an attempt to dispel any doubts about the severity of the situation, I acquired an air quality monitor, which revealed that the air in my apartment was even worse than I had imagined. It felt like living in a constant choking haze, reminiscent of the day when the sky turned orange across New York City. Unfortunately, that was the reality I faced every single day within the confines of my own home.

Not only did this toxic environment take a toll on my health, but it also tormented my beloved cat, Tuly. She suffered through COVID alongside me and was never the same afterward. Each time the smoke infiltrated our apartment, she would scream, terrified that she was reliving the nightmare of her illness. Tragically, on May 14, 2022, Tuly succumbed to the relentless torment caused by these inconsiderate individuals. It broke my heart to the point when I had to make the agonizing decision to put her down, sparing her from further suffering.

Determined to seek justice and resolution, I took my landlord to court in May 2022. They eventually agreed to write a letter to the offending tenants, threatening eviction if they failed to comply with the NY Smoke Free Air Act. Initially, I had a brief respite for just one week, only to find myself back in the same distressing situation as before. When I approached the landlord to express my concerns, they claimed that their lawyers were working on it, yet no meaningful action was taken against the tenants. Consequently, their harassment intensified, with one tenant repeatedly threatening to smoke until I suffered a fatal heart attack, and another even threatening physical violence (he was arrested but never charged). Upon returning from the hospital, one of the tenants callously remarked, "I'm sorry you didn't die! I need to try harder to kill you."

The situation became increasingly alarming, prompting me to seek temporary refuge in Boston with my father for a week at the end of June. During that time, I hoped that the turmoil in my building would subside. However, when I returned, I faced continued harassment from other tenants, who asserted that I had no right to housing because of my asthma. They deemed it entirely acceptable that I should not be able to breathe freely in my own apartment, taste my food, or get a good night's sleep. Disturbingly, one of the offending tenants would purposely light up at midnight, knowing that using my inhaler would rob me of sleep that night. Some even went as far as suggesting to the landlord that my apartment should be sealed off completely, without any means of ventilation or ways to moderate the temperature in my home. I was literally being told by everyone around me that I had no right to breathe fresh air in my own home!

Upon my return to Brooklyn on July 5, the harassment resumed with a vengeance, leaving me utterly defenseless and incapable of working, sleeping, or even eating for five agonizing days. I reached a point where I couldn't even cook for myself and had to rely on food delivery, only to have my meals stolen. I realized that I was under siege. By the time the police arrived to take a report about the stolen food, the stress had rendered me unable to walk properly (I experience severe dyspraxia under stress).

In desperation, I confided in my therapist, making it clear that if I failed to log in for a session, they should immediately contact the police and insist that my absence wasn't due to natural causes. The constant exposure to smoke had sent my blood pressure skyrocketing, making me fear that I would have a heart attack or stroke. I began the search for a lawyer to handle my case, as no city agency was willing to extend a helping hand. The fear for my life grew more palpable with each passing day.

On July 11, with my cat Trevor and a few essential belongings, I escaped to an extended stay hotel in New Jersey. At the time, it seemed like the most feasible and affordable option for my safety. Little did I realize just how protracted this journey to resolution would be. Nevertheless, despite the trauma I endured, I was fortunate to have some savings and a job. I thought I could weather the storm.

I lost my job in August because the project I was contracted for had come to an end. Since then, I have been freelancing, and struggling to find more stable employment. Regrettably, my savings have now been entirely depleted.

To add to my distress, my landlord has been intentionally prolonging my lawsuit, aiming to bankrupt me before I even get my day in court. Additionally, they have filed a suit against me for unpaid rent. Naturally, I have refused to pay rent while I have been constructively evicted from my own home. I am scheduled to appear in court for my landlord's suit in July, and I urgently need $250 to cover my lawyer's fees for that appearance.

I have reached out to social services in an attempt to secure assistance, but unfortunately, I have been met with nothing more than bureaucratic red tape. As a New York resident displaced to New Jersey, I have fallen through the cracks, and no one seems willing to lend a helping hand. Amidst this chaos, the only agency that has provided any measure of support was the DMV when I needed to update my ID. I have tirelessly searched for more affordable housing solutions and sought employment opportunities, but the results have been disheartening. I have encountered scams offering false job opportunities and apartments, and have even been targeted by a human trafficking ring (rest assured, I reported them to the FBI, and I am safe).

Here is how your contributions can make a tangible difference:

1. Sustaining Shelter: Your generous donations will help me maintain a roof over my head at the extended stay hotel, where weekly rent amounts to $630. This will provide some stability during these uncertain times. I have one week before I end up on the street.

2. Essential Needs: Your support will also enable me to afford food for both myself and Trevor, as well as cover Trevor's medications and supplies. Trevor, my faithful feline companion, requires upcoming blood tests next month to renew his prescription. When Trevor's kidney disease is well-managed, he has a high quality of life, and he is currently my sole companion.

3. Legal Support: Navigating the complex legal system demands significant financial resources. Your contributions will help me cover the mounting attorney fees as they arise, ensuring that I have competent representation throughout this arduous process.

To everyone who extends their helping hand, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. In addition to financial contributions, I would also greatly appreciate little notes of encouragement, ideas, job leads, or even offers of a spare room if you happen to know me personally (I am specifically seeking a rental arrangement as a roommate). For now, I prefer to avoid rooming with strangers. Your compassionate support and positive energy mean the world to me during this trying time.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for standing with me as I work to rebuild my life and overcome this nightmarish ordeal. Together, we can make a difference and restore hope where it has been dimmed.