How to Talk to Your Regional Center Caseworker When You’re Having Problems With Your Landlord

💭 Feeling stuck between your kid’s needs and your housing situation?

If your landlord is making your life hard—ignoring repairs, entering without notice, threatening to evict because your child is “too loud”—you might not know what to do.

But here’s the truth: you don’t have to handle it alone.

Your Regional Center caseworker can help—but only if they understand what’s happening and how bad it is.

Let’s walk through what to say, what to ask for, and how to protect yourself.

📞 Step 1: Ask for a Housing-Related Check-In

Call, text, or email your caseworker and say:

“Hi, I’m having some issues with my landlord that are affecting my child’s housing stability. Can we schedule a time to talk? I think I may need help requesting a housing-related accommodation.”

This tells them you’re serious, and that you may need a letter, advocate, or housing vendor.

📋 Step 2: Be Clear About What’s Happening

Use plain words. Don’t hold back. Here’s a script you can follow:

“My landlord is threatening to evict us. I think it’s because my son has meltdowns sometimes. He has autism, and this is just part of his condition. They’ve also ignored several repair requests. I’m scared to push back because I don’t want to lose the apartment.”

Or:

“We were told we couldn’t have therapists visit anymore because it’s too disruptive. But those visits are part of our service plan.”

🧠 Step 3: Ask for These Supports

You can say:

📝 1. “Can you write a reasonable accommodation letter?”

Explaining that:

• Your child has a disability

• Certain behaviors or service needs are disability-related

• You’re requesting that the landlord allow accommodations (visits, modifications, exceptions to certain rules)
  
  

👩‍💼 2. “Can you help me connect with a housing advocate or ILS worker?”

Some Regional Centers contract with agencies that can:

• Talk directly to landlords

• Help you document your rights

• Even attend hearings or mediations
  
  

🧾 3. “Can we add housing stability to my IPP goals?”

• This puts your current rental situation into your formal case plan

• It gives your service coordinator a reason to follow up

• It also lets you request housing-specific resources or emergency support
  

🛠 Step 4: Start a Paper Trail (Together)

Ask:

“Can I email you a summary of what’s been happening so we have a written record?”

Then send a follow-up like this:

“Thanks for talking today. Here’s what I’m dealing with:

The landlord has been threatening us with notices. I’ve had trouble getting repairs done. My son’s disability-related behaviors seem to be part of the issue. I’m hoping we can get a letter or help requesting accommodations.”

✊🏽 Remember: You Are Not Asking for a Favor

Your child is entitled to:

• A stable home

• Medical and behavioral support services

• Housing that doesn’t punish them for being disabled

And you’re entitled to:

• Repairs

• Peace

• Protection from retaliation

If your landlord violates those rights, and your caseworker supports your housing needs on record, you’ll be better prepared to:

• Push back legally

• Get help from LAFLA or Housing Rights Center

• Document violations for HUD or CRD complaints