I’m Being Sued By My Landlord, Because My Mom Owes $40k Of Back Rent.

This is a throwaway account for privacy purposes. I will respond when possible to comments.

I live in New York City. I’m 21 years old, and I should be legally responsible for my own mess. But this is beyond my skill set and comprehension, because I wasn’t taught how to do all of this. I was thrown into the deep end.

Bit of background: my dad passed away in 2023 from cancer. My mother was unemployed since 2019, and prior to his passing, my dad was receiving SSDI checks due to severe back problems he incurred from his job. Since 2019, my family relied on public assistance programs (Cash Assistance, SNAP, Welfare, etc). In 2020, we were illegally evicted but were brought back after we were able to repay $1,000 thanks to all of us (five family members) managing to raise the money.

After my dad passed, my mom suddenly left one day without saying a word, and paying none of the bills. It was me and my brother until recently, when he moved out. Since then, I’ve had a court date come in the mail, and I have an appearance scheduled at the Bronx Housing Court within the next two weeks (I had a virtual hearing but technical issues prevented me from joining). I don’t make enough at my job to cover rent, I’m trying to apply for assistance myself, but I don’t know if I can do it in time before my case.

My notice for the hearing came with a phone number for me to get a lawyer, and I was advised to contact Homebase for help during my cash assistance interview but I need more detailed information. I’m living alone in an apartment I can’t afford, I don’t have enough experience to find a job that pays more, I have severe anxiety and depression that has only worsened since she left (I’m afraid to call family, let alone organizations that may not be able to help me), and in general: I really, really don’t know where to start.

I tried reaching out to my mom but her phone is disconnected, and I’m going to contact my landlord in hopes of getting the documents I need for assistance, but I’m petrified because I really am not sure of what I should do first. My best role model was my dad, my brothers all have their own lives, and if I get evicted I have nowhere to go.

The apartment is $40,000 in the hole ($32K rent, $8K power). I’m really losing hope and beginning to think I’m done for here. What should I do?