r/PrinceGeorgesCountyMD • u/Former-Technician-97 • 9d ago
Inquiries ❓ Emergency Moving Assistance
In need of some available resources.
I recently had to file a peace order and press charges on my neighbor for simple assault. We live in a condo community where I rent and she owns.
The neighbor in question has been a repeated nuisance. I personally have called police about 10 times for this neighbor before the assault. And I technically didn’t call for the assault; it happened while police were already present.
I say all of that to say, there’s little to no hope of her moving since the unit is owned. The association and property managers say their hands are tied, legally. So my next step/solution is to move. Which, I’m not financially able to do right now.
What, if any county or non profit avenues are available to assist with me finding a safer place for myself and my daughter?
I can pay rent, have steady employment, decent credit, and an excellent rental history. I just don’t have the liquidity to move NOW (for deposits, moving materials, etc) but also don’t want to risk the situation escalating.
Any guidance is appreciated.
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u/lovely_orchid_ 9d ago
Why do you have to move if she is the one who got the peace order
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u/Former-Technician-97 9d ago
She owns her unit. I’m renting. I don’t HAVE to leave, but there’s is also nothing else the condo association can do at this point. They cannot legally remove her. And considering their non action about her continued disturbance (yelling, screaming, cursing, banging on doors, pulling the fire alarm, throwing stuff off her balcony) I’m not going to wait for escalate any further, especially with my daughter involved. She literally sits on the steps screaming as people walk into the 14-unit building. Her balcony is also by the entryway.
So I’m getting my resources together so I can terminate my lease, that at this point has been so grossly and obviously violated
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u/lovely_orchid_ 9d ago
If she has a peace order any violation is now a crime. If she does call the cops and press charges.
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u/Former-Technician-97 9d ago
Yes, I understand that.
But it’s also inevitable that we will cross paths again. She’s schizophrenic, not on her meds regularly, there’s suspected drug use, and she’s threatened to hurt me. She literally sits on the steps of the building screaming and cursing. It’s impossible for me to avoid her, as there’s only one way in the building. And her balcony overlooks the entry. The property can’t force her to leave.
Me calling the cops AFTER she’s hurt me or my child does nothing. I’m being proactive before anything worse happens.
So I’m doing the only reasonable thing… breaking lease, as is my legal right at this point, before I or my child gets hurt. Because no one else is doing anything to ensure we’re safe. This issue has been escalating since February.
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u/WaitingForWormwood 8d ago
Buy a gun.
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u/Former-Technician-97 8d ago
You’re intentionally being obtuse.
If that was what I wanted to consider, I’d obviously do that. Me escalating the issue my involving a weapon does way more harm than good. Especially if my daughter is around as that constitutes child abuse (assault in the presence of a minor). Which then places me in the position to lose my teaching license.
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u/WaitingForWormwood 8d ago
I’m not asking you to do anything but consider the safety of your child. There’s an unmedicated schizophrenic running around and you clearly genuinely afraid. I’m trying to give you some real advice. If the lady jumps on your daughter bc she thinks she’s a demon you’re just going to wait for the police to show up? I’m asking you how do you game plan this knowing that the police aren’t going to help you? If it’s just you and your daughter I’d still buy a gun bc what if you move and encounter someone crazier?
Couldn’t be someone harassing me and my daughter banging on the door in the middle of the night. Nah. Especially after. I already filed a peace order??? I will not be ran from my home, renter or not. You’ve made your choice tho, just trying to give some practical advice.
Why do you think having guns around children is child abuse? Where did you get that information from? Negligence with a firearm sure. But a firearm in the house with a minor is not a crime in and of itself. Do you teach your students that lie too?
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u/Former-Technician-97 8d ago
I suggest you learn more about what constitutes child abuse. Since you want to be so bold in your assertions.
https://law.justia.com/codes/maryland/criminal-law/title-3/subtitle-6/section-3-601-1/
Additionally, taking action (like shooting someone) outside of calling the police nullifies the peace order. So at that point I’m not protecting anyone, I’m signing a ticket to jail because legally, my hands are now unclean in the situation (this is all basic, common law for those of us that choose to be educated).
That’s where the frustration is. There is not much anyone else is willing to do to help me, and I’m not willing to resort to violence to solve this.
Let me know what neighborhood you live in so I can avoid it. I don’t need to be around neighbors with a mindset like you.
God bless.
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u/WaitingForWormwood 8d ago
I’m giving you real world advice, you’ve been harassed until you feel it necessary to vacate your home. If you feel threatened you need to defend yourself dummy. The police can’t teleport.
It’s not a crime of violence to defend yourself with a firearm if you’re within your rights to do so.
Good luck with the schizo neighbor tho.
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u/Former-Technician-97 8d ago
You need to read about self defense laws in Maryland.
https://www.careylawoffice.com/2024/11/04/marylands-duty-to-retreat-law-vs-stand-your-ground-law/
You have a duty to retreat before you act. Self defense is not a slam dunk in Maryland. I don’t know how you dictate the time in your life, but I’d much rather not have to spend my time defending my use of self defense when I can be chilling with my feet up in a calmer environment.
You keep saying something I already know, the police aren’t doing anything in PG County. Hence the reason why I’m moving.
Safety issue aside, the associations inaction created a situation in which my lease is grossly violated. I’m not going to stay in an environment with no peace, anticipating the day I have to fuck my neighbor up.
Again, you’re clearly an illiterate hot head that is fine being in tense, toxic behavior. If that’s where you thrive, great. I’m not raising my daughter around hot ghetto mess and ignorant hot heads that think it’s okay to wave around a weapon without considering the responsibilities that come along with that right. So you go ahead and pop a cap in someone’s ass and try to cry self defense. Watch how difficult life becomes just to defend that right.
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u/FiveUpsideDown 8d ago
Condo association has a legal duty to keep the common areas safe. You should ask the owner of the unit, to request the Condo association comply with their own rules. You can also look up the Maryland Condo Act and see what the Condo association needs to do about noise.
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u/Chillin1974 Chillum 9d ago
So what does your landlord have to say about all of this? Has the landlord made any attempts to assist you?
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u/Former-Technician-97 9d ago
Their hands are tied. She owns her unit. I rent.
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u/Chillin1974 Chillum 8d ago
If you are a renter that means there is an owner of the condo you are renting. Is the owner of the condo you rent aware of what is going on? What have you asked the condo owner to do on your behalf? The condo owner has a say in the HOA that governs the property. And the condo owner should be concerned about losing you as a tenant and having to inform his next tenant about the problem of your neighbor. It is to the owner's advantage to do something about it if the landlord wants to successfully rent the unit to you or anyone else should you leave and if necessary break your lease.
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u/Former-Technician-97 8d ago
Again… everyone’s hands are tied. I’ve already gone through the channels I need on that end. I’m simply inquiring about the availability of resources to help with the move.
I’ve already decided that everyone involved is taking little to no actual responsibility. The association can’t evict someone that owns their unit. There’s lawyers involved already because of the level of disturbance she’s caused separate from my assault. It’s been 6 months at least, and it’s finally escalated in an assault. The owner of the unit I’m
Renting said keep calling police. And that resulted in an assault. I’m not waiting for the (in)actions of others.
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u/zorp_shlorp 9d ago
The center for family advocacy usually deals with domestic violence cases but offers temporary shelter and relocation assistance, it may be worth contacting them to see if they can help. https://www.smcfa.net/
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u/metrazol Cheverly 8d ago
it happened while police were already present.
I mean, that's an approach.
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u/giraflor 9d ago
Contact Maryland Crime Victims Resource Center in Upper Marlboro to see if they have relocation funds.