California (Thechieftainspear) – For decades, Maria Merritt called El Sereno home. Her modest house on Poplar Boulevard was more than just a residence—it was a sanctuary through life’s storms. She raised her four children there, built a stable life, and found comfort in family traditions, from Sunday dinners to holiday decorations in the front window.
Even when life took a dark turn and she found herself homeless, the vacant house remained a symbol of hope. Nearly five years ago, she made the bold decision to reclaim it, breaking in and making it her own once again.
However, after months of legal battles, Merritt was forced to leave the home that had been her anchor. Last fall, she said goodbye to El Sereno, moving 11 miles away to an apartment in Westlake, a choice she hoped would bring stability. But from the moment she arrived, she felt unsettled.
A Longstanding Housing Struggle
Merritt’s story is intertwined with the California Department of Transportation’s long battle over the failed 710 Freeway expansion. For decades, Caltrans acquired homes in the area for a project that never materialized. Now, those properties are being sold, with some tenants purchasing their homes at reduced rates. Others, like Merritt, were left with fewer options.
She first moved into the Poplar Boulevard home in 1995 and lived there for 12 years until personal struggles, including addiction and mental health challenges, led to eviction. More than a decade of homelessness followed, with Merritt at times sleeping on the median strip of a busy street.
In 2020, inspired by housing activists occupying vacant Caltrans-owned homes in protest of the city’s homelessness crisis, Merritt re-entered her former house. Inside, she found relics of her past—family photos and memories frozen in time.
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Activists, known as the Reclaimers, pressured Caltrans and the Los Angeles Housing Authority to allow some individuals, including Merritt, to legally rent the homes for two years. She dreamed of staying permanently. But when Caltrans deemed her home unfit for habitation, she was relocated to another property. Then, as the temporary agreements expired, she faced eviction once again.
A Difficult Decision
Determined to fight for her home, Merritt struggled to find legal representation. Eventually, overwhelmed and out of options, she accepted a deal: $15,000 to leave voluntarily. It wasn’t the outcome she wanted, but it gave her a chance to start over on her own terms rather than face forced removal.
Her new apartment in Westlake offered modern amenities and security, yet it felt unfamiliar. The neighborhood was congested, noisy, and isolating. Her health, already fragile, worsened. Mobility issues made even small tasks difficult, and the stress took a toll on her mental well-being. She cut off her hair, a stark reminder of her past struggles on the streets.
Finding Strength in a New Chapter
With time, Merritt found ways to adjust. She decorated her apartment, surrounding herself with photos of her grandchildren and their artwork. A paper bag turkey, made by her three-year-old grandson, became a daily source of comfort and motivation.
She channeled her energy into small projects—restoring thrift store signs with positive messages and cooking meals that reminded her of home. Though her apartment provided security, it didn’t feel like the community she once had.
Merritt misses El Sereno, the place she still calls “my city.” She longs for the backyard where her grandson once played and the close connections she had with her neighbors. While she remains grateful for the stability she has now, she knows she doesn’t want to stay in Westlake forever.
Her next move will be on her terms. Whether she returns to El Sereno or finds another home where her family can gather, she’s determined to shape her future herself. For the first time in a long while, no one is forcing her to go anywhere .
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