Mother in hospice out of state and landlord wants her belongings gone by end of month. I don’t have the resources to do so...now what?

We recently moved mthr's things out in an area with rampant COVID. The care home would not allow us to come in. I asked for photos and postcards to be saved, and I later picked up that box outside the facility. Her easy chairs, bookshelves, and other furnishings were distributed to staff who might want them, residents, or donated or trashed. There just was not much worth keeping. You can let it go and it will be ok.

Can you ask the social worker at the facility for advice? I doubt the landlord is going to be asking for a POA if someone shows up to clear the apartment for them. I think, according to the law, the landlord needs to inventory the items and safely store them for a period of time. I'm sure they would rather someone come and get them.

I like mrbills suggestion of having one of your mom's friends look through the belongings if there is anything you want to save. Other than that, let the landlord handle it. What else can you do?

I'm sorry you're going through this.

Have you spoken with the landlord and explained your situation? I would try that to bide time, maybe 2 weeks or a month.

This IS a tough one.

I believe the landlord is within his rights to ask the apartment be vacated. If the rent for the month has gone unpaid (has it? And for how long?) what else can they do? No altruism exists at a rental/mgmt company.

Senior living is at a premium these days. What if someone is on the waiting list for that apartment and has been waiting for a long time? It’s only fair to vacate your mom’s possessions as soon as you can so another person in need can have it. If it is unclaimed they landlord can put the items at the curb for you or whoever to go through, then have it hauled away.
Does your mother have a security deposit there? If so landlord will most likely have her forfeit that and he will use that $ to clean out the apt and throw the stuff out.

If you as her daughter can’t get there nor afford it your hands are tied. Sorry as this must be very sad for you.

Packing up items and shipping cost a lot of $. The landlord isn’t going to fund that. So if you can’t afford it, try to make one trip there now to retrieve any momentos you may want to keep and then shut the door and let it go.

Here in my town they have stopped all evictions because of the COVID-19 virus. Look into that in LA, it might buy you some extra time.

I went through something very similar to your situation a few years ago.
I traveled across the country to pack up the apartment of an elderly relative with dementia. One of my cousins wanted me to bring EVERYTHING back. If I'd listened to my own better judgment, I would have donated almost everything and left it there! It was hauled back in a POD and put into storage. After she passed, it was all disposed of. The only things her siblings really valued were the old family photos.

Speak to a Social Services director or some other administrative type person there at the facility where your mom is and see if they can recommend someone who handles elder relocation services such as what is needed. Is/was she a member of a church there? When I packed up my aunt's apartment, she and her husband had been longtime members of a church of which they had been very active. The church had a ministry that did the very thing you have described (packing up elderly people's homes). This group came and helped me and I could NEVER have done it without them!

Perhaps you could located a church near her apartment which has that type of ministry and have them take care of it, with a special request they save and ship to you any photos or jewelry items.

There HAS to be some type of group that goes and does that sort of thing.

I’m so sorry you and your mother are suffering and now the landlord just added one more thing to the pile. It’s so overwhelming and you feel you’re going to crack at any moment, my heart goes out to you.
First if all any changes, notices etc with the landlord must be in writing, it’s the law. My sister & I live in California and she runs a property management & knows the laws. He cannot just call you and say he wants your mother out by the end of the month. He must give written notice whether it’s a 3 day notice to pay or quit because rent is behind or a notice to evict and I believe it’s now a 60 day notice to evict. He must post the notice at the residence and mail a certified copy. If I were you I would place an address change with the post office so her mail is forwarded to you. If it comes down to him cleaning out her apartment, if anything is valued at more than $250 he must store it. Remember unless you have signed paperwork you are not financially responsible for her debts. What I have learned is that the memories are in my head and although I would like to keep all of my moms things it’s just stuff. This is a very emotional and overwhelming time for you, please take care of yourself first.

Is there a church or other organization where people know your mother? Could they get a work party together to move her stuff out? Can you afford to get it stored or shipped ? If she didn't have this type of group try contacting Catholic Community Services or similar organizations there for help.

As a notary in NC, they have changed the laws for notaries in some places because of Covid. I can now "watch" someone sign something via Facetime or Zoom and can noterize it when they send it to me in the mail. So more than likely, you can get the POA if you and your mom feel that is nessesary to help her.
And you are right, her belongings are just things, unless you have someone (perhaps a church member?) that you can ask to help pick up the items that have any special meaning to them (family heirlooms or such), then just let them go, they are just things. I'm sorry that you are having to deal with this in such a crazy time and from so far away.

Wow, that's not an easy situation. Is there any other family? Or friends? Who was Mom's close contacts in LA before she had to go into hospice? I'm wondering if there are a group of people Mom was close to there who can go to the apartment to help.

Since you are not legally responsible for her then I can't see how it is your problem. I there anyone local who could retrieve any small valuables or sentimental items? Beyond that I rather doubt that anyone who has been living in a facility has very much of value, either tell the facility to deal with it or hire a junk removal service.