Joy A. Ricks
P.O. Box 2533
Dana Point, CA. 92624
949.491.5010
Joyacatani@gmail.com
Friendship Shelter, COC Orange County, CA
24361 El Toro Rd.
Laguna Woods, CA 92637
Dawn Price, Director
Avalon Communities/Eaves Apartments
24950 Via Florecer
Mission Viejo, CA 92692
Jennifer Lovelace
RE: DOUGLAS RICKS death July 31, 2022, under FRIENDSHIP SHELTER COC HUD
PROGRAM
January 16, 2022
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am filing a complaint against the Friendship Shelter on the death of my brother Douglas Ricks,
who was disabled while he was under their care under the COC/HUD program on the grounds of
Section 504 which prohibits discrimination based on a person with disabilities in any program or
activity that receives federal financial assistance. He was also discriminated against and denied
transitioning into another HUD venue due to his prior hospitalization and was denied even
though it was available and had the option to do so under his (contract under the COC) but was
denied. Under the COC Supportive Care Services 578.53, he was also discriminated against and
denied any of these resources since 2016, nor was he ever made aware of them under this grant.
Instead of assisting him and making those accommodations and resources after his
hospitalization, they instead instilled tremendous retaliation, intimidation, and harassment upon
an aging, disabled, and very frail man. Even prior to his hospitalization this abuse went on for
years that intensified until his death. These despicable acts upon him were executed by the
Friendship Shelter staff s and Eaves Apartments that were instructed by Friendship to spy patrol,
and insight new schemes to instill added fear upon him that would make him believe he would
lose his housing. This caused him great distress and induced mental disorientation and paranoia.
He was targeted as other HUD tenants were not being abused in this way.
It has been devastating what happened to him and as his twin sister who took care of him and
lived with him, they remove me after telling me I was an unauthorized guest. This they stated
was their policy. No accommodations or resources were put into place after I left briefly out of
state (upon their request). I was in contact with him if not once a day, several times a day the
horrid events that were taking place. I could not return because they were preventing me from
coming back.
In February 2022 Jennifer Lovelace began her work as an office manager at Eaves Apartments
and was shortly after given instructions by Friendship to gather information on us. This
instruction was also given to all the previous managers at Eaves. Jennifer falsely reported to
Friendship that there was an unauthorized guest. On May 10, 2022, a week after the inspection
there is an unannounced visit from Karyn Hay from Friendship and two other staff members to
instill fear and intimidation. Karyn issued a violation on him/us for an unauthorized guest.
In our continued discussion with Karyn, we made her aware of his recent discharge from the
hospital on May 1, 2022, and that he would need assistance as stated on his discharge papers.
She was also informed that he was on new medications. She did not take any notes or notify
other staff members and no assistance was offered or made aware of. No resources were made
known or made available. And although Friendship stated and provided itself in specializing
those with disabilities, this was also concealed and not offered.
At this point, Doug was very upset, especially with all this happening after collapsing and being
recently discharged from the hospital. Doug then requested that he be moved into a HUD
program that would provide less patrolling and policing and more freedom from their
harassment. In addition, it would afford him in gaining other options for his care since his health
needs had changed. Karyn then states that she has access to HUD vouchers and plays on the
fact, that we both don’t know. She then stated that she could not give him one and gave no
reason why.
Karyn then changed the subject and proceeded on about their policies and stated if he did not
comply, he would lose his housing.
A falsified notice of renewal of a lease agreement was sent to Doug stating that his lease was up
for renewal on July 31, 2022. His initial lease began in March of 2019 so it was not possible that
it would be renewed in July. This was orchestrated by Jennifer from Eaves and Karyn in which
they devised a plan to send out the letter to Eaves corporate office and then had them send it to
Doug’s residence.
False Violation issued too many plants as stated in the Lease
Karyn issued another violation to remove and destruct his beautiful garden. He allowed only one
plant and one doormat. (This is not in his lease). No other residents were requested to do this.
On June 15, 2022, he had not had a case worker in months prior to this and for the past two years
there was inconsistency when they would show up due to a problem with staff changeover.
Because Doug requested in his previous discussion with Karyn that he was tired of the policing
and patrolling she continued with her retaliation and harassment and placed a worker from their
shelter to do exactly what he requested not to do.
Dylan Health was instructed by Karyn to patrol and intimidate Doug by appearing at his door
unannounced at all hours of the day without notice. He continued this behavior even though
Doug on numerous occasions asked him to stop. Dylan ignored his request and proceeded with
this behavior. This was also done to prevent me from coming back to the property. This man was
both mentally and psychologically abusive.
No health or mental provisions were provided for Doug by Dylan or any staff. Doug also
complained about not having food.
On July 27, 2022, due to the fact, Doug was left alone for long periods of time without any care
he began to become more anxious and paranoid which was exasperated by Dylan’s stalking and
harassment. Doug requested that he wanted to leave just as he told Karyn he would if they didn’t
stop. They gave him no other options and so he requested to go to the shelter. Doug being a
disabled person recently discharged from the hospital under doctor’s orders that he was to have
assisted care as stated on his discharge papers, he was in an extremely frail state and shuffled
rather than walked so he was in very poor condition. In addition, he was mentally disorientation
due to his illness and the stress he was going through. He was in no state to be removed without
a preventative plan of action that would ensure his safety and stability.
Since no alternative housing or care was offered to him such as taking him to a hospital or a
supervised care facility or anything else, Doug was removed from the property. Dylan nor
anyone else for that matter was aware of his recent hospitalization and he had meds that were to
be taken.
Dylan then removed Doug from the apartment with his dog. Doug unknowingly was diverted
and was driven directly to Marie Azad’s office, and requested that he hand over his keys to the
apartment. This was done with all our property still inside. Since he was under duress, he
submitted them. Dylan then drove to their local shelter in Laguna Beach and dumped him off
with no keys, no phone, no resources like water food, and his dog in 100-degree weather. Doug
was not permitted to be at the shelter between the hours of 10;00 a.m. to 5 p.m., so during those
hours he would have to find his own shelter.
Douglas died three days later in a schoolyard abandoned by himself with his dog running around.
He had no phone as no one bothered to ask if he had one with him. On Sunday, July 31, 2022,
Sergeant Schmidt from the Laguna Beach Police notified me that Doug had died and had been
found at the Laguna Beach High School. He stated he did not recognize him and was not the
Doug he had known and that he was surprised to see Doug in such a frail, almost skeletal state
alone.
Several days later in another phone conversation with Sergeant Schmidt, he stated that they had
viewed the CCTV school camera in which he watched Doug holding his head and appearing in
distress, then laid down and watched him die.
On Sunday, July 31, 2022, shortly after I received the report of his death I immediately contacted
Marie Azad from Friendship, to my surprise she waited an entire day to call me back.
On August 12, 2022, in an attempt to reach higher in the organization I wrote an extensive letter
to the Executive Director of the Friendship Shelter, Dawn Price. Ms. Price replies by covering up
by not addressing any of my questions and instead states her staff did nothing wrong. And
contrary to Marie Azad’s states he was given options, but he declined.
Also, an investigation into the criminal activity of terror and intimidation that was bestowed
upon a very frail aging man that was disabled to the point of causing his death.
In light of the foregoing, I am seeking damages for the injuries suffered. The discriminatory
treatment against Douglas caused both mental, emotional and physical injuries leading to his
death.
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