We've been helping people affected by Covid-19 organize for rent suspension and forgiveness. They are of all backgrounds. Some do under the table work, others have union jobs. But all have not been provided for and want rent suspension now. Here are their stories:

"My partner/roommate and I are in the foodservice industry and since mid-March our income has been cut down by over two thirds, with no end in sight." - Oakland

"My father is a healthcare professional and we are scared for his life. Most of my family is working class or poor, many have underlying conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure. Some are also undocumented, so all of us have been really frightened"
- San Francisco

"My partner and I moved across country for work this past December. We now are both on furlough with no pay, patiently awaiting unemployment. We aren't sure if we will be able to afford food, rent or maybe even relocation back to Connecticut."
- Berkeley

"My work's business has been severely curtailed by the crisis with everyone working at home. We just got word that nearly everyone's hours will be reduced by 20% for the next couple of months."
- Berkeley

"I don't have a lot of faith that unemployment funds will be coming soon, and as someone who already lives paycheck to paycheck I fear what could happen if my income decreases even more or goes away entirely."
- Berkeley

"I'm currently the only working member in our apartment because I’m able to work from home."
- Berkeley

"I was a preschool teacher and got laid off with no notice. I’ve organized my duplex into a tenant council and we’re in talks with our landlord! Woo!"
- West Oakland

"I lost hours as an independent contractor. I already didn't have enough for rent and bills before the virus. My partner is at high-risk if she gets sick."
- Berkeley

"Right now, we’re able to pay rent, but we don’t know how long that will be the case depending on how long the pandemic stretches and the state of the arts and food service industries (where we work) once all is said and done."
- West Oakland

"I am worried for those in my community who are in immediately precarious situations and I believe it’s time to organize for everyone’s wellbeing."
- West Oakland

"I have had my work hours reduced by about 80%. I work for a florist in weddings/events. All of our events for the next 3 months have been cancelled. I have a small amount of clerical work but I've basically lost my job for the foreseeable future."
- Downtown Oakland

"Elderly neighbor reached out to me in need of help. I am organizing my fellow tenants under the same landlord to make a proposal for relief for her and others who have lost their income streams."
- Alameda

"Lost significant income, and I face infection at work with no hazard pay"
- East Oakland

"My apartment owners are trying to force everyone in my building to move into temporary units in another building for the next month while they upgrade the A/C system. During a pandemic."
- Dallas, Texas

"I was laid off due to COVID-19 for an unforeseeable amount of time and now I am unable to meet rent and other life expenses."
- West Oakland

"Myself and both of my housemates have had our hours reduced or completely eliminated. All of the folks within our apartment building are brown and black working-class folks, and our landlord still insists on collecting rent"
- East Oakland