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Friend --
First the good news - the State
intends to extend the pandemic eviction protections that we have had
since September. For those of us unable to cover the rent during
COVID, we will have more time to get back on our feet.
But we all know that whenever that
rent comes due, we’ve got a big problem. We’re not going to get back
pay; how are we going to pay back rent?!
Today, Governor Newsom announced a
plan that attempts to tackle this problem with $1.5 billion in federal
rental assistance funds. Many tenants will get relief. Unfortunately,
this proposal leaves tenants at risk of eviction and crushing housing
debt, for one simple reason - it depends upon the voluntary
participation of landlords.
Join us in telling our state legislators - we need a plan
that ALL eligible renters can benefit from, not just those lucky
enough to have a willing landlord!
80% of tenants at risk of eviction
right now are people of color [1]. A program that allows unscrupulous
or racist landlords to opt out is a giant loophole that means more
families, disproportionately Black and Brown, will be pushed out of
their homes and into homelessness.
Click
here to urge your legislators to get this right - act now to prevent
evictions, but take more time to get the rent relief program
right!
There are many good and fair
landlords. Unfortunately, there are also many landlords who show a
total disregard for their tenants, and sometimes want to push them
out. They may want to slap on
some paint and double the rent, leave their property vacant, or just
evict a tenant they happen not to like. Consumer and fair housing
protections exist for a reason - abuse and discrimination are
rampant.
Relief for renters cannot be
optional.
Urge
your legislators to close the loophole on rent relief and pass
immediate eviction protections!
We are close to passing the
eviction protections and rent relief that we desperately need - but we
cannot pass a bill with loopholes that perpetuate racist displacement
and puts our lives in the hands of landlords’ discretion. The stakes
are too high.
This
is a profound matter of racial justice. Take action
now!
In solidarity,
Sasha Graham
[1]https://www.aspeninstitute.org/blog-posts/the-covid-19-eviction-crisis-an-estimated-30-40-million-people-in-america-are-at-risk/
ACCE Action
http://www.acceaction.org/
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