Even though the unemployment rate is still climbing, protections for renters are running out — as extra unemployment benefits and suspension of evictions expire.
Renters in the Woodner apartment building in Washington, D.C., protest on May 28 to demand that their rent be forgiven during the COVID-19 pandemic.Renters in the Woodner apartment building in Washington, D.C., protest on May 28 to demand that their rent be forgiven during the COVID-19 pandemic.As one of the country's worst economic and health crises in history deepens, rent is due again for millions of people who are struggling to make ends meet.
Over the last few months, states and the federal government have taken steps to help tenants who've lost their jobs. Now, while the unemployment rate is still climbing, some of the protections for renters are running out.a week in unemployment benefits for eligible people is set to expire at the end of July, for instance.
In March, Elaine Slikkerveer lost her job teaching art for a nonprofit in Reno, Nev., as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Now, the single mother of two is struggling to pay the rent and has had to consider uprooting her family from the condo they've rented for 10 years.To make her April and May rent, she stopped making payments on other bills, used her government relief checks and dug into her savings.
Last week, Slikkerveer's landlord, John Burkett, told NPR:"I sympathize with Elaine's current situation and am working with her to ease the stress," adding that"rental income is my only income so this is definitely putting a burden on me as well." In the end, Slikkerveer says that Burkett agreed to waive her late fee and figure out a payment plan."I never dream about it. And to be honest with you, it's like a nightmare. It's a lot of uncertainty," she says."I was planning, had everything planned. And nothing in my plan is working. I mean, I have nothing right now."
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