Dear John:
Right now, Congress is writing the next coronavirus relief package, and they need to hear from us immediately that we need action for the people who don't know how they are going to pay the rent on May 1.
On March 17, People’s Action’s Homes Guarantee campaign released a list of federal demands for action on housing & homelessness during the COVID19 pandemic.
I’m proud to announce that, on April 17, U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D–M.N., introduced a bill in Congress that our grassroots team helped to write, and that answers one our most critical demands: cancellation of all rent and mortgage payments—a.k.a. #RentZero.
The Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act (H.R. 6515) includes:
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suspension of rent and mortgage payments, nationwide
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zero accumulation of debt for renters or homeowners
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zero negative impact on credit ratings or rental histories
That’s right – we can win rent and mortgage cancellation nationwide.
But our success rides or dies on how much pressure people like you and me put on our members of Congress to pass H.R. 6515 as part of the next stimulus package.
Will you join me in calling our representatives and asking them to co-sponsor the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, and ensure it’s in the next stimulus package?
We set up a tool to make it simple and easy to call your rep.
I’ve been hearing stories from our grassroots leaders about how dire the situation is at home. Some are down to the last dollars in their bank accounts as the May 1st rent due date approaches. And with layoffs growing by millions every month, more and more of us will be in the same position.
That’s why we set a goal to mobilize 50,000 people to call their Representative about H.R. 6515 by May 1. If we can’t escape fear about housing costs, our Representatives shouldn’t be able to escape our demands for relief.
Will you add your voice to our nationwide call for action?
If Congress refuses to provide relief to renters and homeowners, we will have no choice but escalate our tactics and claim it ourselves. Thank you for reminding them that the clock is ticking.
It’s been a hard few months for all of us, but there is one truth getting me through it all: when we fight, we win.
Win, we must!
—Tara and the Homes Guarantee team
