Healthy Neighborhoods Public Call to Action on COVID-19
In this time of stress and uncertainty we need each other more than ever. We recognize that the COVID-19 crisis has impacted our neighbors in many ways, including their health and wellbeing, jobs and income, and ability to pay rent and find food.
We remain dedicated to acting with compassion and solidarity to build upon the strengths of our community and find practical solutions that help all neighbors overcome the evolving crisis.
To stabilize housing, we ask:
for lenders to suspend interest and defer mortgage payments for at least 90 days;
for property owners to defer, reduce, or waive rent for tenants who cannot afford it;
for tenants to communicate with their landlords about what kind of support they need;
for a moratorium on evictions during this time of social isolation;
for everyone to reach out to their neighbor with compassion to make sure they're okay;
for public resources to be mobilized to house the homeless and assist anyone at risk of becoming homeless.
For employment and income security, we ask:
for neighbors who are out of work due to COVID-19 to take advantage of the new laws and apply for unemployment benefits immediately;
for employers who are able to continue operations to provide a safe workplace and adhere to CDC guidelines;
for neighbors to shop locally and support our community businesses;
for employers to keep employees on their payrolls as long as possible;
for governments to provide sufficient emergency relief (e.g. grants, loans) for employers.
For food security, we ask:
for everyone to shop thoughtfully, making sure there’s enough food and supplies for all;
for food pantries, farms, schools, and local grocery stores to continue the flow of free and reduced groceries and meals;
for governments at all levels to ensure that these hubs of food access have the resources they need to continue their work effectively.