NEW YORK–It may be April 1, but numerous grassroots organizations across the country say they aren’t fooling in urging renters and homeowners to not pay their rent or mortgage payments beginning today and lasting until the coronavirus pandemic is over.
In what’s being billed as Beyond Recovery National Day of Action, the organizations are calling on renters and homeowners hit hardest by the coronavirus crisis to put pressure on landlords and decision-makers by not making their payments.
For credit unions that hold mortgages on owner-occupied homes, rental homes or rental apartments, any broad movement to stop making payments could have strong implications.
“As coronavirus sweeps across the nation no one is left untouched. With a record 3.3 million workers applying for unemployment insurance in the past week alone, an unprecedented number of people in the United States are facing economic devastation,” said Right to the City Alliance in a statement. “These people are facing the prospects of a mountain of debt or outright evictions from the very homes that are keeping them safe in this moment of physical distancing.”
National Network
Right to the City Alliance said it is a national network of more than 80 racial, economic and environmental justice organizations, all of which is said are calling for an immediate cancellation of rent and mortgage payments through the duration of the public health and economic crisis for all renters, homeowners, and small businesses, and for a three-month recovery period.
Right to the City Alliance said it is launching the nationwide campaign Beyond Recovery today to demand legislation across the country that provides immediate relief and long-term solutions for workers and the unemployed. The alliance has further issued a list of demands and will launch a National Day of Action including the #CancelRent #CancelMortgages Digital Rally with speakers affected by the economic and health crisis, a National Call your Representative effort, and a Digital Day of Action, according to the organization.
“Millions of people found out last week that they were laid-off, or had their hours cut. Yet the Trump administration wants to continue as if it’s business as usual. It’s not,” said Maria Zamudio, associate director of Housing Rights Committee of San Francisco, in a statement. “We need immediate relief for the millions of workers across the country who won’t be able to pay rent, mortgages, or utilities on April 1st and the millions of more workers who won’t be able to pay them on May 1st. We need legislators to step up and cancel rent.”
No ‘Band-Aids’
Alongside the National Day of Action is a 10-day music festival hosted by Grammy nominated musician Aloe Blacc titled the #CancelRent Festival.
“The band-aids offered from the recent stimulus package won’t cover one month’s rent for many people, much less the lost wages, health insurance, and utility payments, and groceries that millions will need,” the organization said. “The need for legislators to step up in this moment is more critical than it has ever been.”