Eviction of a free loader?

[Joyce Hoffman]

My sister Joan is 83 years old and lives in New Jersey. She had a homeless person living with her for the past 18 months named Lynn. This person brought in her male cousin (also homeless) to live there free, and then her 15 year old son. No one pays rent or helps with the bills, in fact Lynn has my sister giving her a check for $375.00 per month. Lynn says this is household money. Lynn also cashes a check for $500.00 each month she says is for Joan. Joan's only source of income is Social Security and a small pension. They are bleeding her dry.

Joan is very kindhearted and felt sorry for Lynn's son being homeless. She has put up with a lot. What was happening to Joan came to the surface when Lynn got drunk and sent Joan to the hospital 2 Saturdays in a row. The hospital started questioning the poor condition Joan was in.

Lynn's cousin finally told me what was really happening to Joan. Lynn was getting drunk and drugging Joan when she did not want to be bothered with her. Lynn was also not giving her the meals-on-wheels food that was being delivered each day. The cousin also called Children's Protective Services about how she was treating her son. He was removed from the house.

Joan was in such poor shape she went to a nursing home for rehab. I was told unless someone could take care of her 7/24 she would remain there. She can no longer walk.

I was instructed to sell her house to pay for the nursing home. I found a buyer but he wanted everyone out of the house. I gave the cousin and Lynn the 30 day notice. The cousin moved out on the 30th day. Lynn however did not. She says she has no place to go and no money. I went there 2:00 in the afternoon and she was laying drunk, on Joan's bed with a bottle of Vodka, sleeping with out a care in the world.

I told her, her 30 days are up and to leave. She said she can't because she has no place to go. I told her the house is sold and she has to get out. She just keeps saying she is too depressed to do anything.

The house is a wreck. Empty Vodka bottles and garbage all over the place. Furniture broken and knocked over. Religious statues broken. Collectible statues that were given as a gift, broken. Lynn has a cat she is to drunk to clean up after so the cat goes all over. The smell in the house in unbearable. The house needs a lot of work. Lynn has her furniture stored there and has also allowed her daughter to store furniture and household items there.

The person who wants to buy the house as is does not want to wait too long.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can speed up the process of getting her out? I was told by her cousin that she was evicted from the last place she lived in. I guess she knows how the system works --- I don't. A lawyer told me to just follow the eviction laws.

Seems so unfair. Does anyone have any ideas on how to help my sister?

Thanks....Joyce