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NEW: California is on track to allow mass evictions to begin during the worst phase of the pandemic so far. Millions are at risk, and many more will die of Covid if lawmakers don't pass new tenant protections.
A short thread on what's at stake
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/13/california-mass-evictions-renters-covid-19-surge
A short thread on what's at stake
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/13/california-mass-evictions-renters-covid-19-surge
-More than 2 million households said they couldn't pay rent in November, and that # will increase with new shutdowns.
-Tenants owe an estimated $1.7 billion in unpaid rent, and California law currently says they are on the hook for all of it, which will be impossible for many.
-Tenants owe an estimated $1.7 billion in unpaid rent, and California law currently says they are on the hook for all of it, which will be impossible for many.
Evictions mean more people will die. When other states lifted eviction moratoriums, it led to 433,700 additional Covid cases + 10,700 more fatalities, according to @LeifScience.
Given the scale of the crisis in CA, the fatal consequences will be catastrophic here.
Given the scale of the crisis in CA, the fatal consequences will be catastrophic here.
Failure to expand tenant protections leads to more mass death. "This isn't theoretical" - @DavidChiu who is pushing extensions.
And the entire state will suffer as a result: “Allowing evictions to proceed increases the risk of Covid for everyone in the community" - @LeifScience
And the entire state will suffer as a result: “Allowing evictions to proceed increases the risk of Covid for everyone in the community" - @LeifScience
Even with protections in place, landlords are already pursuing evictions across CA. In Berkeley, Loa Niumeitolu has received multiple eviction notices even though she's protected by Berkeley, Alameda County + California laws.
"We just live in fear.”
"We just live in fear.”
Loa's landlord, Sullivan Management Company, rescinded the notices after tenants organized + formed @smc_tenants.
“We’re just trying to stay afloat" -Emily Stone, who also received notice. "Threatening people with homelessness if they don’t pay up right now doesn’t make sense"
“We’re just trying to stay afloat" -Emily Stone, who also received notice. "Threatening people with homelessness if they don’t pay up right now doesn’t make sense"
After she lost work in March, Loa said she has tried to pay rent when she can, and has asked her landlords for relief. And @smc_tenants has tried to negotiate with the landlord.
“I haven’t paid rent, so I can actually go to the grocery store and buy the food we need.”
“I haven’t paid rent, so I can actually go to the grocery store and buy the food we need.”
There are some proposed solutions. @DavidChiu has introduced two bills, one to extend existing state protections through December 2021, and another to provide broader rent relief. If those don't pass, state protections end Jan 31, and tenants will be stuck with massive debts.
Tenant groups want broad forgiveness. Renters who can't pay must have debts erased + small property owners need mortgage forgiveness, said @Leahfsw. The alternative is mass displacement + suffering: “It's the government’s responsibility to make sure society doesn’t collapse."
The eviction crisis will be catastrophic for children, notes @JanineNkosi of @FaithinValley. In Central Valley, unhoused families already have nowhere to go, especially when it's unsafe to even go to McDonalds or libraries during the day for basic internet access, due to Covid.
During Covid, housing functions as schools, sanctuaries + much more. In the Central Valley, an eviction tsunami would be deadly in so many ways
“Many people are one unexpected life event away from an eviction + everyone now is experiencing an unexpected life event" - @JanineNkosi
“Many people are one unexpected life event away from an eviction + everyone now is experiencing an unexpected life event" - @JanineNkosi
