Dear Comrade,

In an incredible show of tenant power, the DC Tenants Union (DCTU) rallied two dozen organizations, including Metro DC DSA, to call on Mayor Bowser and the D.C. Council to close Landlord-Tenant Court—and our calls worked! Eviction proceedings are halted until May 1. Housing court is closed for eviction proceedings.

But we can't stop now, and the DCTU has escalated its demands. We're signing on because we know protecting tenants' security is critical in this crisis. We need to act today, before the Council's hearing on emergency legislation on Tuesday.

Once the eviction moratorium ends, thousands of DC residents will owe back rent and risk immediate eviction. That’s why the DCTU is calling on the city to protect tenants by doubling the budget of the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, to $15.8 million dollars. We're also calling for a two-year rent freeze to prevent landlords from taking advantage of the crisis by displacing working-class tenants. Read the full statement here.

Please take time to call your council member's office (and the at-large council members) and demand that the D.C. Council double ERAP’s budget and impose a citywide rent freeze. Find your council member here. You can even call the mayor!

Below is a script you can use:

Hi, my name is [NAME] and I am a DC resident. I'm calling to thank you for pressuring the DC Superior Court to end all eviction proceedings until May 1. With price-gouging happening across the country, though, I am afraid that the same will happen with housing. Unless tenants live in one of the few rent-controlled apartments in this city, there is nothing preventing landlords from raising the rent tomorrow and every month afterward. The Council MUST impose a rent freeze immediately, and must double the current Emergency Rental Assistance budget, which will protect those most affected by the coming economic downturn.

  • [if negative reaction] I hope you reconsider. It's important that we protect tenants for the longterm consequences of this crisis. We can't prioritize landlords over tenants.
  • [if positive reaction] Thank you for listening, and I hope that you'll make an announcement soon about how you plan to keep tenants and our communities safe.
Here are the relevant contacts:

TWEET:

  • We closed housing court, but the fight isn't over. Now, we demand doubling of the Emergency Rental Assistance Budget and #NoPriceGougingHousing—the @CouncilofDC and @MayorBowser must impose a rent freeze, now! http://bit.ly/rentfreezenow
  • We're already seeing prices skyrocket for hand sanitizer and other emergency supplies. We refuse to let our homes be next. We demand a rent freeze, now! #NoPriceGougingHousing Call scripts here: http://bit.ly/rentfreezenow
  • Tenants can't pay rent if they're sick or can't work during this crisis! Call @CouncilofDC and @MayorBowser today and demand that they include financial relief for workers and tenants in Tuesday's emergency legislation http://bit.ly/rentfreezenow
  • The @DCTenantsUnion is demanding financial relief for workers and tenants during #coronavirus. If tenants can't work because they're sick or lost shifts, they can't pay rent. Call @MayorBowser and @CouncilofDC now! http://bit.ly/rentfreezenow

Wash your hands, isolate yourself as much as possible, and stay safe!

In solidarity,

Metro D.C. DSA
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