The COVID-19 crisis has ground the economies throughout the United States to a near-total halt. The working class, service industry workers, events workers, artists, musicians, retail workers, etc. are having hours cut down, sometimes cut completely until the crisis passes and business picks back up. We are being told not to go to work. We are being told to stay home. We are being told there's no business. We are being told for the sake of the community and to contain the virus, not to go to work.

In the meantime, how will we pay our rent? How will we afford basic things like groceries, heating, and utility bills? 

The city of Harrisonburg is composed of many immigrant workers who rely on service industry jobs to sustain themselves and their families. In times of crisis, these workers are most vulnerable. Without consistent wages and hours, these communities are hurt most by the COVID-19 outbreak.

In addition to these communities, low-income students throughout the surrounding area are hurt by the economic downturn in our local economy. Retail and customer service positions are drastically being cut to accommodate the growing threat of this global pandemic. University jobs are non-existent with instruction moving to online platforms.

We need a rent freeze!