How does the US protect people who lost their jobs because of COVID?

Should they be able to stay in rental units or be tossed out to become one of thousands of homeless?
Should the owners of the units be protected and legally be able to toss them out?

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Ynotisay · M

We'll see. Today a federal judge threw out the moratorium on evictions. The Biden Administration said it would appeal. It's a REALLY tricky situation. Both sides have valid arguments. I would imagine though that rental housing is going to start drying up big time. At least with single family homes.

LordShadowfire ·

@Ynotisay I mean, as a landlord, I don't like being the bad guy. But if somebody isn't paying rent, I can't pay property tax or mortgage payments. As you say, a sticky situation.

Pitchblue

@Ynotisay The way things are going it's like the government wants all assets to be consolidated to a few companies. Real estate 3 companies. Groceries, Walmart, Costco and Kroger.

Ynotisay · M

@Pitchblue Not sure about that. It's why there's antitrust laws. Monopolies aren't in the government's best interest. Or the country's.

Ynotisay · M

@LordShadowfire It's a tough situation. And interestingly, the landlords have played second fiddle throughout this whole process. Yeah. It's tough for tenants but landlords not receiving rent are in the same position. It's sort of nonsensical to protect one and not the other though.

Pitchblue

@Ynotisay Small business has taken such a beating. I just wonder how some of these businesses are still open. Here they made concessions for restaurants to have patio seating, outside on the sidewalk, so they bought awnings etc and today were told 2 more weeks of 100% shutdown. Bars and restaurants have been closed to all but take out for almost a year.
What company survives that other than these super conglomerates?

Ynotisay · M

@Pitchblue I hear you but individually owned restaurants aren't chain grocery stores. Eating and drinking in a restaurant or bar is a luxury. Buying food from a grocery store is necessary. I'm not sure how it worked where you are but where I live restaurant owners who are leasing are under the same protections as housing tenants. And I think they're going to do just fine. Biden's Covid bill included almost $30 Billion for small and mid size restaurants. And that's in addition to whatever states are doing. It's a good example of the role the federal government should be playing in a situation like this. Trying to regain normalcy with as few victims as possible. A lot of money is going out to help businesses recoup. An issue that I saw where I live is businesses were looking to hire but people didn't want to work because they were making as much or more by not working. That's not good.