Renters & COVID-19: Are we just delaying homelessness?

Like climate change, a pandemic disproportionately impacts low-income communities, even in Marin. Insufficient affordable housing and consequent crowding, unhealthy environmental conditions like poor air quality and flooding, low wages and inadequate access to healthcare and nutritious food all contribute to making low-income Marin residents particularly vulnerable in a crisis.

It’s even worse in immigrant communities like San Rafael’s Canal, where many residents live paycheck to paycheck without savings, and even on a good day struggle to meet basic needs. Now many are unemployed without a safety net; they fear that accessing healthcare or assistance of any kind may jeopardize their chances of obtaining or keeping a green card, and could even lead to deportation.

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, San Rafael City Schools, Whistlestop and others are providing food assistance. Two Canal-based nonprofits, the Canal Alliance and Multicultural Center of Marin (MCM), are coordinating food distribution, rental assistance, legal services and other support, but these resources are stretched thin.

Marin’s current eviction moratorium merely delays homelessness for many, as unpaid rent continues to accrue.

There’s a moral as well as economically sound response: if you own property and are able, consider reducing rents — not just payments — for a while. Negotiate a workable payback period for when your renters can go back to work. Work with your tenants, directly or through mediation services available through the County.

Covid-19 has magnified underlying inequities in our local economy and society. Getting back to normal is not enough; we must “build back better.” With thoughtful policy, leadership and our better angels, we can begin to redress fundamental disparities. 

Read our Marin Independent Journal Voice Op-Ed on this topic here>>.