Antonia Martin can breathe a bit easier...

Antonia Martin can breathe a bit easier nowadays.

Officials announced Friday that affordable housing has been located for the 59-year-old Torrance woman and that the impending court battle between her and the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles has been resolved.

Although the archdiocese is still asking the disabled widow to leave the small wood-frame house she has lived in for 20 years, at least Martin now has a place to go.

Next month she will move into a senior citizens apartment complex in Redondo Beach and leave the 600-square-foot house on the grounds of St. James Catholic School in Torrance.

There her husband, Angel, worked as a custodian from 1968 until his death in July, 1987. While he worked at the school, the church allowed the couple and their two daughters to live rent-free in the previously abandoned house.

But after Angel died, the church asked his widow to move out.

Martin, who lives alone on $340-a-month disability checks, argued that she couldn’t afford to move. And besides, she said, church officials told her in November that she could stay

until she could afford to move.

Martin had asked the church to let her stay until June, when she turns 60 and becomes eligible for the Social Security benefits that would enable her to afford an apartment.

The archdiocese said it couldn’t wait and decided to ask a South Bay Municipal Court judge to evict Martin. The case was scheduled for Jan. 11.

But now that Martin has agreed to move out by

February, church officials said they are willing to forgive and forget.

“The case has been settled and everyone is happy,” said Mark Todd, a paralegal working for the archdiocese.

Martin agreed. “Estoy contenta, “ she said in an interview Saturday. “I’m happy.”

Martin, who came to the South Bay from Cuba in 1967, will be living at Casa De Los Amigos, a federally funded senior citizens apartment project that charges rent according to the tenant’s income.

Martin’s attorney, Margaret Kirby, was told about the inexpensive housing opportunity by a parishioner at St. James Catholic Church who had heard about Martin’s situation.

The apartment complex usually has a lengthy waiting list, church officials siad, but because of Martin’s situation, she was given priority.

Martin’s attorney, Margaret Kirby, said she is glad the case was settled without a legal battle.

“I’m happy and excited,” she said.