Dear Prudence,
I own and rent out several duplexes in my home town. It is my primary source of income, though I do have a part time job for health insurance. I used to physically maintain all the properties myself but after a car wreck, I couldn’t. I cut a deal with distant cousin “Paul” that he and his elderly mother “Jean” could live in the unit next to mine with a severely reduced rent if Paul took on a handyman role (he worked construction). This worked for several years, until this January, when Paul died of a heart attack. He was only in his fifties. I loved Paul, and I was a pallbearer at his funeral. But I still have to maintain my business.
I told Jean that I would cover all the bills until her lease ran out in May, but I couldn’t afford to keep her in the unit on the reduced rate and hire a new handyman. The plan was for one of Jean’s daughters to move in to care for her, or she would move in with them. Only, it turns out Paul was the only decent one of the bunch. Daughter One refuses to help out unless her violent, drug addict son comes as well. Daughter Two can’t keep a job. Daughter Three told me privately that the “state” will take care of everything and flew off to California after the funeral. Jean is physically disabled but sharp as a tack. She doesn’t want to move out and will never find such a nice place for the pennies I ask. She keeps crying and suggesting untenable solutions, like she will take over the bookkeeping or find a roommate or three (her rent is very, very cheap). I don’t have a problem with bookkeeping, and Jean doesn’t like computers. All her potential “roommates” have come through her church and couldn’t pass a background check.
I love Jean. I don’t want to evict an elderly woman. Without Paul, I can’t afford not to. Jean inherited everything Paul had, but even his life insurance isn’t going to cover her living expenses for more than a few years in his market. She is only in her seventies. And our family often lives past a century. I don’t know what to do. My “options” as suggested by my family are: Jean moves in with me and uses her funds to hire a caretaker/housekeeper, and I rent out her old unit for full market value. Jean isn’t moving in with me. Period. I still don’t want her on the streets. Now or ever. Help.
— In a Hard Place