The town hall, which drew attendees from around the state, is part of an emerging alliance of Pennsylvanians working across city and county lines to advocate for just policies for working people. Housing and land rights, especially for black and brown, migrant, and marginalized communities are their top priorities.<\/p>\n
Community members spoke of the enormous challenges they face just to survive in the time of COVID. \u201cGetting by on low wages with insufficient workplace safety measures at Mom\u2019s Organic Market was hard enough. Now, with COVID, I\u2019ve lost work and can\u2019t cover rent. I had to move out of my apartment and am struggling to support six family members who are financially dependent on me. We need action and we need it now. That\u2019s what I came here to tell the Governor\u2019s office and that\u2019s why I\u2019m fighting for a rent and mortgage freeze,\u201d said Alicia, a One PA member.<\/p>\n
Maribel, a CASA member and York resident who rents out a few apartments addressed the town hall, as well. \u201cOne of my renters just lost his job due to COVID. We all know the psychological effect that this virus is having on our communities. Now, imagine that on top of that, you lose your job. Do you think that we could make this person as well lose the house they live in? I know I can’t do that! Our lawmakers need to cancel mortgage payments [so small landlords can cancel rents,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike so many other renters, I couldn’t pay my April rent because I’m out of work. On April 9th my landlord came with a truck and several men to try and take the furniture out of my apartment. Now he’s harassing me and trying to evict me, even though evictions right now are illegal because of the COVID-19 pandemic,\u201d said LizaMarie, a member of Make the Road Pennsylvania. \u201cI won\u2019t be able to pay rent in May, and I still need a safe place to live. We all do. I need to know that I’ll be protected by the government during this crisis. We need Governor Wolf to step up now to cancel rent to protect me and all other renters in our state.<\/p>\n
Calls for swift action were embraced immediately by several members of the state legislature and local officials. Representatives Sara Innamorato and Summer Lee, of Allegheny County, Representative Elizabeth Fiedler, of Philadelphia and Representative Danielle Friel Otten, of Chester County, have introduced legislative proposals to suspend rent and mortgage payments during the COVID crisis.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur constituents are facing a pandemic and an economic crisis all at the same time. Millions of Pennsylvanians are seeing their income slashed and it\u2019s time for the state government to step up. That\u2019s why we\u2019re introducing legislation to freeze rent and mortgage payments, said Representative Fiedler.<\/p>\n
Alliance members asked Governor Wolf and legislators to back the measure proposed by Lee, Innamorato, Fielder, and Otten and to sign onto the organizations\u2019 call for rent and mortgage payment cancelations as the pandemic and its economic fallout wreak havoc upon millions of Pennsylvanians.<\/p>\n
\u201cPennsylvania is sadly leading the nation in unemployment. One of the primary goals of working is to pay for a roof over your head. If over one million neighbors cannot work, I am certain they are worried about the crucial need of housing. I am working with my colleagues to amplify this need and ease the concern legislatively by freezing rent and mortgage temporarily. One cannot shelter in place if evicted!\u201d said Representative Joanna E. McClinton, who represents Delaware and Philadelphia Counties.<\/p>\n
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\nInformation provided to TVL by:
\nMake The Road PA
\nhttps:\/\/www.maketheroadpa.org\/<\/p>\n
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