Maine housing advocates are calling on Democratic Reps. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree to support legislation that would suspend rent and mortgage payments during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Due to layoffs and mass unemployment, even more renters are making choices between food and rent, accruing debts, and at risk of being forced from their homes,” read a letter addressed to Maine’s congressional representatives and signed by local housing advocates, including Raise-Op Housing Cooperative and the People’s Housing Coalition of Portland.
“One-third of renters were unable to pay their rent in April,” it continued. “Potentially millions more will be unable to pay when rent is due today, May 1.”
The letter was sent on Friday, as rent was due for thousands of Mainers and millions of Americans. As national unemployment numbers continue to reach levels not seen since the Great Depression, rent strikes are being held in cities across the country to demand rent suspension and forgiveness measures.
These strikes also coincided with a national social media campaign, organized by the non-profit People’s Action, to call on House representatives to support The Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act, which was sponsored by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.).
On April 16, Governor Janet Mills ordered a halt to eviction orders from courts, but opted against blanket rent forgiveness. Instead, her administration created a short-term funding source that allows households under certain incomes to receive a one-time payment of up to $500, to be paid directly to their landlord. As of Thursday, only 771 renters out of 4,604 applicants had received rental assistance.
Photo: An image from the Food Not Rent protest in Los Angeles on April 30. | LA Tenants Union, Facebook
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