99-Year-Old Woman Faces Eviction From SF Apartment She Lived In Since 1950s

SAN FRANCISCO (CBS SF) - A 99-year-old woman who has lived in her apartment in San Francisco's Western Addition neighborhood since the 1950s could be evicted as soon as next week, according to her attorney.

Iris Canada was served an eviction notice recently and is currently fighting it, her lawyer Laura Chiara said Tuesday at a news conference outside of the Superior Court of San Francisco at 400 McAllister Street.

Canada was granted a lifetime estate lease on her apartment, which allows her to live in the 6-unit building until her death.

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The building's owners, however, are trying to evict her claiming she is in violation of the estate because she does not live there and has other tenants, according to Alicia Bell of the Housing Rights Committee.

Canada does live in the apartment and has a caretaker who visits her regularly, as does her family, Bell said.

The building's owners have been identified as Stephen Owens, Peter Owens and Carolyne Radishe, according to Bell.

Chiara said she filed a motion for relief of forfeiture, asking that Canada's lifetime estate be reinstated. Additionally, she requested a one-week stay to allow Canada to stay in her apartment until next Wednesday, which a judge granted.

A hearing for the motion for relief has been scheduled for Tuesday, according to Chiara.

Supervisor London Breed, who attended the news conference, said the eviction was unacceptable.

"This woman has a lifetime lease, so that means that as long as she is here on earth, she deserves to have the dignity of her home," Breed said. "As a city we have to do better. Allowing our seniors to get kicked out of their home shouldn't even be an option. Where's the love, where's the compassion?"

Attorney Mark Chernev, who is representing the building's owners, was not immediately available for comment.

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