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2021-06-01
Buildings become useless.
I once heard from my uncle that the pandemic has rendered buildings useless. When people started working online, going to work has plummeted. Nowadays, many people prefer working at home over going to their office. They find it more convenient working online because they do not have to waste their time traveling back and forth as well as losing their money on gas. Due to the development of technologies, people can pretty much do things online. We can work online, shop online, and do all kinds of entertainment online too. Thus, many businessmen lost much effort and money in paying off their building rent. Some trying to sell off their building but the condition just makes it more challenging, because no one would want to carry that burden to themselves. My uncle told me that, in his prediction, buildings will disappear in the near future and that people only go out for traveling or in some necessary circumstances. I thought about that a lot and somehow I kind of agree with his prediction. I do not think that buildings will completely disappear but people will definitely work online more in the future. -
2021-04-17
The Crisis in a Crisis
This news article is about how COVID and homelessness have disproportionately affected families and especially black women. These are the two groups who are most likely to be benefitting from the rent moratorium right now. And as a result, they will be the groups most in danger of losing their housing once the moratorium expires. I wanted to include this story because it provides a perspective on homelessness that goes beyond people currently experiencing homelessness. People who are taking advantage of the moratorium are essentially on the verge of homelessness because they have no way to pay back that rent. This story highlights the fragile housing market and the economic situation that COVID placed many families under and the long-term economic consequences that come from this situation. -
2021-04-15
Another Victim of a COVID Economy
I have anxiety. It’s not uncommon, and I have coping mechanisms. One of the things that helps me not fixate on things out of my control is being active. So I run. And for the past six years, I have been very committed to “barre,” which is similar to Pilates. My barre studio is my respite from the world, one hour to focus just on myself and my muscles. And the supportive community is unlike any other I have been a part of (I’ve done boot camps, kickboxing, etc. and have never found anything like this.) Since exercise is crucial to my mental health, when the pandemic began, I knew I could not stop working out. Especially with a household of five suddenly being at home together 24 hours a day! I was extremely fortunate that my barre studio immediately transitioned online. In fact, all throughout this pandemic, I have held them up as my example of the exact right way to deal with this situation. They made a digital library, offered multiple daily live classes over Zoom, reopened as a hybrid. My barre classes have been the constant throughout this pandemic, especially before I returned to work in person. Up until a few weeks ago, my most consistent live interaction with adult humans not living in this house were my barre instructors and the other women in the classes. So when I opened my email and saw this message, it hit me like a ton of bricks. They couldn’t survive COVID-19. It makes sense - they had two studios before COVID and rent is not cheap in Orange County. I am, of course selfishly sad - where will I find a reasonably priced, low impact but high intensity exercise studio that is five minutes from both my daughter’s gym and our church? But my real sadness is for the small business owner who opened this studio eight years ago. She is truly passionate about physical and mental health and is probably one of the most positive people I have ever met. And in a way that doesn’t annoy you, which honestly is a gift. As people get excited about businesses reopening, it makes me reflect on how many more have had to close their doors permanently. -
2021-03-04
S.F. Japantown businesses owe tens of thousands in rent. Can the area survive without them?
In the decades since, the community’s boundaries have shifted and shrunk, devastated by forced Japanese removal and internment in the 1940s and by large-scale redevelopment in the ’70s. But San Francisco’s Japantown persisted, even as others throughout the United States faded away. Today, Nihonmachi is the country’s oldest and largest Japantown, one of three remaining, but it covers only about six blocks — and many worry it is in danger of disappearing. The pandemic has hit neighborhood businesses particularly hard, and this year an agreement with the area’s largest landowner to keep the Japan Center malls “Japanese-themed” is set to expire. -
2021-02-27
Housing Instability
This article discusses the way that housing instability has begun to disproportionately affect black people during COVID. Black people typically face a myriad of intersectional issues that come from a lack of resources or economic support. As people were being laid off at the start of COVID black people of course were disproportionately more affected which in turn can be seen in a lack of stable housing. This in turn serves to make black people more susceptible to catching and being more affected by the conditions created by the pandemic. Housing is an important issue that leads to other things like health and safety. This leads to cyclical poverty which is only made worse by racial positionality and the pandemic. -
2020-11-25
Nova Scotian provincial government caps rent increases at 2% and bans 'renovictions' during pandemic
This new article details how the provincial government of Nova Scotia humanely reacted to the pandemic. -
2020-12-12
Proposed six-month freeze on rent increases voted down in legislature
The government and opposition party voted down a motion brought forward by the New Democratic Party (NDP) on Dec. 9 that proposed a six-month freeze on rent increases to help renters during the pandemic. The NDP had asked the legislature to pass a ministerial order under the Civil Emergency Measures Act to prevent rent-increases until July 1, 2021. -
2020-09-16
Somali American United Council
The Somali American United Council of Arizona, a non-profit organization, was developed in 2006 in response to the growing need to connect Somali communities in Arizona with each other and the rest of the American society. The Somali American United Council of Arizona fills a critical need by helping newly arrived families adjust to their new lives, location, language and culture. The Somali American United Council of Arizona exists to promote better understanding between the Somali refugee community and other American communities. The Somali American United Council of Arizona serves as a model for other non-profit organizations working with refugee communities and immigrant populations. By building a and structure of best practices, The Somali American United Council of Arizona shares this knowledge with other to help them build designed to address cultural barriers and emotional trauma. Vision and Mission Somali American United Council of Arizona, a non-profit Qualified Charitable organization within the State of Arizona, whose mission and vision are to facilitate and improve communication channels and contribute to the wellbeing of the Refugee/ immigrant community, assisting them in becoming productive law-abiding citizens that can properly integrate for a great patriotism. Our is to become the premier institution that offers high quality services to the Somali-American & multi-ethnic Community and prepare individuals of the highest moral fiber. The Somali American United Council's working philosophy includes the encouragement of the Somali American and multi-ethnic refugees to actively seek to find sound solutions to the needs and aspirations of their community in Arizona. -
2020-09-16
Refugees & Immigrant Community for Empowerment (RICE)
Refugee and Immigrant Community Empowerment Center (RICE) is a community-based, non-profit organization dedicated to serving and assisting Refugees, Asylees and Immigrants in the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area, created to close the service gaps that remain after the 90-day resettlement period. RICE is directed by a team of leaders from all over the globe and that works directly with local partnerships to strengthen social services and prevent unnecessary hardships for immigrants and refugees. By advocating and promoting education, dialogue and awareness, RICE identifies the potential for new opportunities then integrates them back into our refugee and immigrant communities. MISSION STATEMENT The RICE mission is to aid refugees and immigrants in becoming self-sufficient and contributing members of the economic growth of the community by creating resources and opportunities to training and education in preparing for employment in the community. -
2020-09-14
Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest (LSS-SW)
OUR MISSION We stabilize people during crisis and transition, build a foundation where people can thrive, and preserve dignity and respect for the most vulnerable. OUR VISION A future where all people thrive. OUR STATEMENT OF SHARED VALUES Dignity: We demonstrate through our actions that all people have value and are worthy of respect. Diversity: We recognize and accept the differences among people, fostering an environment inclusive of all. Social Justice: We model and promote a culture of open-mindedness, compassion, and inclusiveness, promoting fairness, justice, and equal opportunities for all. Quality: We commit to excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement through anticipation and dynamic response to opportunities for change. Community Partnerships: We build collaborative partnerships to strengthen individuals, families and communities. Faith-based: We serve all people with an attitude of compassion and caring, recognizing and honoring our Christian heritage of God’s love in Christ for all. -
2020-09-14
International Rescue Committee (Phoenix)
The International Rescue Committee helps people whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and regain control of their future. -
2020-09-08
Bhutanese Community of Arizona
Bhutanese Community in Arizona are the people originally from Bhutan and settled in Arizona under the refugee program. BCA was established in 2008 -
2020-08-15
Good news in a difficult time.
I remember the beginning of pandemic in Boston like it was yesterday. Coming back from work I was worried about everyone’s’ and my own future. I had just started a new job at the restaurant that quickly become empty as people preferred to stay home and not take a risk of getting infected after having brunch. Speaking about myself, I was mentally and financially at the lowest point in last 10 years of my life. I saw myself as a foreigner with no future who has to work 17 hours a day, having two – three jobs just to survive. I was afraid to get Covid, to lose my job, to not be able to pay rent. And then lockdown happened. During the first three weeks I’ve lost my job and wasn’t able to collect unemployment. The level of stress was nearly unmanageable. Every day I was on the phone trying to reach out any representative who could help me. Every day was restless and sleepless, until few events that seemed to be magical happened. Firstly, unemployment benefits were made available to me. The amount was $600 more than I thought it would be and I was eligible for a stimulus check too. For many people in USA it wasn’t much money but for me, it was twice what I had been making by working. It also was proof of my belief in paying taxes. I have paid taxes ever since I’ve been employed and always thought that even though I might not have gotten anything from doing so right away, there would come a time when doing so would help me. So, it did and did so because of unexpected circumstances and at a time when I was struggling more than I ever had. The news got even better for me despite what was go on around me. I received a letter I had been waiting for my entire life that told me I had been accepted to Suffolk University. I have always wanted to go to university so receiving this great news at such a hard time meant a great deal to me. I also received a scholarship to Suffolk meaning I could actually attend. I went through a number of life changing events in a very short period of time and all during a complete lockdown when I couldn’t really leave home for weeks at a time. I didn’t feel comfortable to show off my happiness whilst the numbers of cases and deaths were rapidly increasing. Ethically it was wrong from my point of view. But now, when everything seems to be getting better and there’s a hope to win the battle with Covid-19 I’m happy to be where I am and glad to share my happy-ending story with you. -
2020-08-10
How COVID-19 Affected Me in 2020
2020 started off just like any other year. I was gearing up for my last on campus semester and continuing my job search for when I graduated. This was the year that I told myself that everything was going to fall into place. This was going to be the year that I found an apartment by myself, bought myself a new car, find my career, and get financially stable. Then i started hearing about the Coronavirus across seas, and I did not think much of it. I did not think that it would result in me being unemployed at age 22 and as a recent (almost) college graduate. However, I think the pandemic is almost what I needed, and what a lot of people needed. All throughout college I was working one if not two jobs while going to school full-time. It was stressful and overwhelming most of the time. I had bills to pay and ambitions to fill. In March of 2020, I secured a job within the hospitality industry, thinking this was something I would be truly happy doing. About a week later, I was furloughed from that job and my serving job due to COVID-19. I took this time to focus on my studies and finish up the semester. That first week was rainy so it almost felt right. Then another week passes, and another, and another. Until finally, I started receiving unemployment. I was filled with panic through the media and refused to leave my house in fear that I was going to die if I breathed the same air as another infected person. After that, I drove to my dads house in California in a rental car. I needed to get out of my small apartment and be with family. While I was there, my stepmom gifted me with her old car as she had bought a new one. I was shocked and overwhelmed with happiness. Fast forward a couple months and my lease was ending. I was searching for studio apartments to live in but was worried I was not going to get accepted due to being unemployed. I considered moving back home to Minnesota where my mom resides and where I went to high school. This was something that I did not want to do as I had established my own life, completely independent, out in Arizona. To add another factor was that my boyfriend lives in Arizona and I did not want to move away from him but our relationship was too new to move in together. One night, as I was laying in bed crying due to the overwhelming amount of stress that took over my mind about finding somewhere to live that I could afford and that was safe, I got a text from my stepdad. He asked if I would be interested in them purchasing a condo and I would pay them rent. This was something I was not expecting and was so grateful for, as this meant I did not have to go through the application process myself. I end up finding a place and move in end of July. Three weeks prior to moving in, my boyfriend gets infected with COVID-19. Now, I felt fine. I stayed inside for two weeks waiting for symptoms to show up. 11 days after exposure to the virus, I lost my sense of smell and taste. That was the only symptom I had, but after waiting a week and a half to get my test results, they came back negative. Although I was relieved, I did not, and still do not, believe that those test results were accurate. I slept in the same bed as my boyfriend the night before he came down with COVID-19 symptoms. There was no other explanation for why I lost my sense of smell or taste. During this time period, I put my fate in the hands of God to protect me. I prayed that I would be okay, and although my panic had subsided, I knew that I could trust God. 2020 has been a very rocky road, but I have accomplished so much throughout this year and I am grateful that I was able to experience this. I still hope and pray for the people who are losing their lives and losing loved ones, but it is just a matter of time before this subsides. -
2020-05-19
Woman Serves Breakfast by Lowering Her Orders in a Bucket
During quarantine, all restaurants were closed. This woman had a food truck and her reputation gave her a large following. When she was forced to close, she started making her famous breakfast sandwiches in her small apartment's kitchen. Her customers would preorder, then line up (socially distanced of course) to pick them up. She would lower the orders down from her fire escape to her clients. Pretty cool gal! -
2020-06-03
Bite Back Rent Strike Poster
A sign hanging outside a grocery store reads "Bite Back Rent Strike A E May Day." During the pandemic, many people are unable to work or earn income and attempts have been made to organize a rent strike. -
2020-05-27
Keep Your Rent Poster: 'Didn't Pay Your Rent? What Comes Next?"
A flyer/poster stapled to an electrical/telephone pole at the corner of McArthur Avenue and the Vanier Parkway, next to a now well known mural in support of frontline workers and across the street from a large grocery store. The area around this pole hosts several apartment tours and the Vanier neighbourhood has a reputation as an area which, in some part, hosts numerous impoverished individuals. The poster is promoting the movement for non payment of rent if circumstances are such that it is impossible during the pandemic, and the prevention of eviction during the pandemic. This is a contensious issue; there are those who feel landlords are profiting from misery and the basic need for shelter while others do not feel depriving landlords of income is the answer and that the renting of properties is a perfectly legitimate method of earning a living. The sign reads "DIDN'T PAY YOUR RENT?/ WHAT COMES NEXT?/ Jobs lost./ Hours cut./ Bills to pay./ Families to feed./ CONNECT WITH YOUR NEIGHBOURS" followed by several different contacts -
2020-05-20
Toronto renters are now staging protests outside the mansions of their landlords
As many are struggling to pay their rent due to reduced earning potential or lay offs due to the pandemic, the #KeepYourRent movement has emerged urging nonpayment of rent. To highlight the perceived hypocrisy of landlords and their organizations demanding rent, and claiming they will themselves face hardship without the income, this article discusses tenants protesting in front of the estates of their landlords and the reactions of the landlords to this event. -
2020-04-30
Good and Evil Coexist in Times of Pandemic
Shakespeare's observation of duality withstand the test of time as the world stands still in fear of pandemic. Appreciation of front line workers cover the headlines billboards. Governor Cuomo shares a letter received from a Kansas farmer who donates N95 mask to New York. Workers unite and organize a rent strike, leading a social movement. Yet, even as we navigate through such difficult, historical moment together, there are people out there that take advantage of others' hardships. This coronavirus newsletter that provides daily update on the pandemic illustrates a stark contrast between the mindset of good and evil. -
2020-05-16
The Challenges I Have Encountered With The COVID-19
Johanna Martinez Professor Nolan English 1A 16 May 2020 My Story Since the pandemics involving the coronavirus has occurred everything has changed for the worst including lifestyle, work, and school. I live in a house in Sky Valley with both my parents and two brothers. It is a house of 5 acres so we have a high monthly bill. Both my parents do not work so it's only my siblings and I who pay the rent. It has been very tough for me paying bills at such a young age that even with the COVID-19 it became much harder. I have been the one buying the groceries as well since I do not want my parents to be exposed to the vious since I know their amnt system is weak. However, it becomes hard since my mom has medicine she needs to be taking that only she can pick up which gets me very worried every time she goes. On the other hand, my sister just had her first baby and my family and I were very worried when she was at the hospital as well for the baby. Once she was out it was hard not being able to see the baby but we know it is for the best to keep her safe and healthy. All we received is pictures daily of how big shes is getting and how they are doing as well. I have also taken into my own hands helping my sister and her boyfriend out by buying them the groceries they need so the baby is safe with them home. Furthermore, work has been another challenge I have been facing daily since the epidemic started. My hours at work have dropped horribly which meant I was not going to be making the same amount of money as before. Now that I go to work I get more frustrated since when I do work we are not busy I go home two or three hours into my shift which does not help since it is more than a half hour drive so I have to pump gas often. As for my work environment it has also been hard working with gloves and a facemask since I do work with money I find it more challenging to make sure I have the right amount back or even breath well. Since I know I have to also help support my family by working I keep going to work trying to make the best of it. When I do come home I am careful and go straight to shower before seeing my family and having dinner with them. As for school it has also been very hard transfering to online class since I struggle more with learning online. Since the pandemic has started I have dropped two classes because it was being very challenging for me and was stressing way too much. I have been trying to get better at keeping up with my homework but it has gotten to the point where I forget or never see the notification. Now that the next semester is going to be the same as online class it is going to be hard again choosing classes I will be able to keep up with. Overall, it has been pretty tough dealing with the COVID-19 trying to keep my family safe because we are doing our best to protect ourselves. -
2020-04-01
“I think it's probably... I guess made it stronger..."
“I think it's probably... I guess made it stronger and sometimes it's hard to think that there is a greater purpose for all this but at the same time I think having faith has kept me grounded and it's also given me a source of community and kind of like a sense of peace during this time.” -
2020-04-29
A Walk through Covid-19 Brooklyn (Shore Road, Bay Ridge)
Chalk writing found on Shore Road in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn. -
2020-03-19
"Don't Pay Your Rent" Message
A chalk message that states "DON'T PAY YOUR RENT" written on the back of my apartment building. This was during the period of quarantine when people were questioning whether or not landlords would still charge rent. I ended up paying my rent. -
2020-05-26
A Day in the Life III
This is my third entry, and I have found that people are beginning to not pay rent. The apartment complex have posted notes on the door's of people who have yet to pay, threatening to evict them. Sadly, I doubt this will amount to anything, as very few people are still here and so I wish them luck in evicting people who aren't even here, since they are threatening to actually evict people. It truly shows how much they care for us as their tenants when they shut down all of their services and leave rent prices the same, truly magnificent. -
2020-03-20
Rent Strike
Thousands of residential renters plan to stop paying their landlords from April 2020 in a nationwide strike as government negotiations stall. -
03/28/2020
Defaced rent strike sign in Chicago
The remnants of a flyer taped to a lamp post in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, advertising a rent strike against MAC Properties, one of Hyde Park's biggest leasing companies. Before being mostly ripped down, the flyer read "MAC tenants, organized" and included an image of an apartment building with the words "keep your rent, April 1." -
03/26/2020
Rent strike poster
A flyer taped to a lamp post in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood advertises a rent strike against MAC Properties, one of Hyde Park's biggest leasing companies. The flyer reads "MAC tenants, organized" and includes an image of an apartment building with the words "keep your rent, April 1." -
2020-04-01
Landlord left a list of homeless shelters
The tweet shows a picture of a list of homeless shelters the twitter users landlord displayed on their doors. This is due to financial issues for many. Many people were unable to pay rent due to being laid off for jobs. The person replying to the tweet expresses outrage that the landlord is not willing to make an exception since this is in the middle of the pandemic. -
2020-03-25
Rent Strike
Graffiti in Jamaica Plain regarding a rent strike during the pandemic. -
2020-03-23
Photo of my building management’s response to COVID rent concerns
There was a grassroots campaign to not pay rent on April 1 as a response and reaction to the ontario government announcing relief for mortgages and utilities with a hope the “social contract” would mean it would be paid forward to tenants. Our building is owned by a non profit entity that works to provide afforable housing in the community - this was in our mailbox shortly before april 1st. -
NA
Los Angeles Tenants Union: Rent Forgiveness Guide for Tenants Unable to Pay Rent During Covid19
This resource is an open guide published by the Los Angeles Tenants Union that seeks to inform tenants about their rites, and encourage them to undertake a rent strike if they should have to choose between paying for rent or paying for food during the pandemic. For many people, a lack of work has made access to funds for living expenses more difficult. #HIST5241 -
2020-03-29
Reclaim Our Homes: Rent/Mortgage Suspension Now!
Petition addressed to the Governor of New York State and the state's congressional delegation that calls for the suspension of rent/mortgage payments and for the housing of homeless New Yorkers. #HIST5241