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“The situation for the homeless in California was very difficult even before the coronavirus crisis. But the pandemic exacerbated this problem,” said Paul Lanktot of the LA Tenants Union, a human rights group that represents tenant interests. Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, Californians have found it increasingly difficult to meet their monthly payments for rent, electricity, etc., he said.
In California, rent payments can be delayed for up to six months and forced evictions are prohibited. But the problem is that the rents are piling up and still not forgiven, Lancott said. “There are people who have not paid their rent for six months. It is absurd to think that in half a year they will find money to pay back payments plus the current rent, especially if we continue to be captive by the pandemic,” he said. .
Who are the most affected?
Paul Lanktot also says that about 60% of Californians spend more than 2/3 of their monthly income on rent. Life in this state is very expensive, especially in big cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, where renting a room can go up to $ 1,500.
Those most affected are blacks or Latinos, according to a joint study by NPR Radio and Harvard University. Representatives of these two communities in the United States are among the lowest paid groups in society, often without permanent jobs and at risk of unemployment.
It is these people who are now particularly struggling to pay their rents and mortgages, says Harvard professor David Williams. “On average, for every dollar that a white American household has, 10 cents in a black household corresponds to 12 cents in a Latin American household. So it is not surprising that these people have the most problems in the world today.” pandemic, “he added.
Consequences for owners
Forced vacancies may be prohibited, but they are, say LA Tenants Union human rights activists. This is especially true for people residing illegally in the United States or those who do not speak English well. They don’t know what rights they have and are willing to obey and move house, Lankott says. However, according to him, the problem is even more complex because the current situation affects many private owners. According to real estate broker, German Marley Temple, who has lived in Los Angeles for many years, some homeowners are having a hard time paying their mortgage. He knew of landlords who admitted that they tended to keep their houses empty rather than let in tenants who did not pay their rent and who could not be thrown out.
Record rents
The consequences of all this are visible: more and more houses are empty and the high rents in Southern California are breaking all records. The crisis caused by the current pandemic has led landlords to screen applicant tenants very carefully, with some even demanding an advance rent payment for the next six months. “Rents have not dropped in price since April, and single-family homes are extremely hard to find because the demand is huge,” says Marley Temple. She added that even before the pandemic, the homeless crisis and the housing crisis were among California’s gravest problems. “But now it’s even more difficult,” Temple added.
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