A Missouri woman whose landlord removed her front door after she lost her job is celebrating the outpouring of support she’s received from the public.
Hannah McGee, a struggling single mother, arrived home to find her front door was removed after she missed her last two rent payments.
McGee told local news station Fox 2 Now she was unemployed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
“He’s always been a good landlord. I guess it took just one slip up,” she told Fox 2 Now.
Her story sparked outrage from local attorneys and a person who was trying to buy the property. The buyer apparently urged the landlord to put the door back on after Fox 2 Now interviewed McGee.
“The landlord needs to realize that the landlord has committed a tort and is liable for anything that happens to this tenant,” attorney Rob Swearingen told Fox 2 Now. “It’s more than negligence. It’s intentional infliction of emotional distress. It’s a violation of Missouri statutes and it’s an unlawful eviction.”
McGee, who lives in Fenton, said she rented the apartment for three years and never missed a rent payment until the Covid-19 outbreak.
A GoFundMe account created by her best friend raised nearly $12,000.
The GoFundMe page was updated on Dec. 15 with a photo that shows McGee enjoying a tea party with her toddler daughter.
“Tonight we are able to Celebrate and We couldn’t be happier. Thank You,” McGee said in the photo caption.
Millions of renters face evictions when the federal ban on evictions expires on December 31st.
Some city and county officials in Texas have extended the eviction ban through Feb. 1, 2021.
