Homeless invited guest becomes criminal
Hello Everyone,
Dazed and confused here in Madisonville, Tennessee by a friend's trouble.
She was invited to come stay in a woman's home after she told members of the church she walked into off the street, that she was homeless. (this is/was true) No shelters exist here. No time limit was discussed, nor were there any demands as to: Rent payment or services as rent.
My friend took over the care of a very neglected yard; upkeep of the house cleaning; laundry and animal care (cats, dog and two birds) as the woman came down with a bad cold just days after my friend moved in. Also staying in the home were two other paying guests. One whom had allowed the homes primary tenate to clean his home while away during the
Week, (truck driver) and candels left alight all through the home caused a fire that burned his home to the ground. When this man moved out upon finding a place to rent along with the other paying tenate, the trouble started.
The woman began with commentary to the effect: The house has need's; I can't afford my bills; etc. This escalated to: If I have a roommate they have to pay half the bills. Just days later, upon discovery my friend had exausted her food stamp allotment buying food for the 'house' she had to leave. Several days of badgering and constant complaint to the effect she could/was: Not able to carry them both. Next [same day] the police were called and my friend was told she could go to jail or get her things and go. BEFORE SHE COULD GATHER HER THINGS the police, incited by the woman who took my friend in, arrested her and charged her with criminal tresspass. Her son had been visiting at the time and agreed then and there, to remove his mother and her belongings. Apparently time to pack was too much to ask. Are there any codes protecting my friend and will she have any recourse to defend against the charge? Personally I feel she was used, and being took in off the street has placed her in a worse situation than she was in to begin with.: sign me: A very confused psycomomma
PS: This person called relatives; church members etc. claiming my friend stole a coat. Funny thing was when church members took my friend to retrieve her things. SHE found her own coat was gone! The church has stood behind my friend and rented her a motel room for a week, but the cost of this false charge, bail etc. is a real blow to one trying to pull herself up by boot straps when she has no boots! Thanks for any and all input on this problem.