The COVID-19 crisis is an unprecedented pandemic, putting millions of lives around the world at risk and threatening an economic collapse that is on the scale of the Great Depression — or worse. Millions of Americans are suffering from mass job loss and economic insecurity, a for-profit healthcare system, all followed by a corrupt and morally bankrupt government response.

We, the associated Lakeway tenants are writing this in concern to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. This pandemic has placed all of us in extremely compromising financial situations, and as your tenants, we demand immediate rent relief. To ensure the economic safety of the collective tenants, we will be withholding rent payments for the ongoing months of the crisis until our demands are met, or we are provided with an adequate alternative payment plan.  As stated in our previous letter, sent to Lakeway Realty on April 1st, we have outlined our collective interests as Lakeway tenants as:

The suspension of rent, pending livable wages and good health.
The forgiveness of back rent for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. We do not intend to repay the outstanding amount and demand that rent be cancelled for the period of social distancing. 
The forgiveness of rent payments and lease breakages for those who had to relocate or move out because of the health and economic concerns of the COVID-19 crisis. 

 These demands are crucial not only to our financial stability, but our health and well-being as well. Due to the COVID-19 crisis, many of us tenants have already made extremely difficult compromises, housing should not be one of them. 

On April 2nd, Governor Jay Inslee extended the ‘Stay Home, Stay Healthy’ emergency order “beyond the end date of May 4th.” Inslee ordered the extension    recognizing the unpredictability of this time, and its  impact on those more disadvantaged. As Inslee stated, “we need to reckon with the realities of disparities in our communities.” In other words, the impacts of COVID disproportionately affect working-class Americans.  This is especially true for those without access to healthcare, internet, and child-care. 

The COVID-19 crisis has only  exacerbated in the United States. With the number of (only confirmed, not total) COVID cases reaching 895,000 Americans, and over 50,000 deaths. While the state of WA is seeing a gradual decline of new confirmed cases, this remains an unprecedented crisis. Until a vaccine is produced, there is no way of knowing when conditions will return to safe levels. The nature of the disease has forced us to take obligatory health precautions including quarantining and social distancing, all of which have disrupted our professional and personal lives. 

The economic impacts of this crisis for the working-class American cannot be overlooked. Massive waves of unexpected  layoffs have left us wondering how we will be able to survive the upcoming months, physically, mentally, and financially. A record number of 26 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past 5 weeks of the pandemic, including many of your own tenants. Too many of these claims are denied. Some are rejected because the workers did not meet a certain “eligibility requirement” (income level, amount of time with a job, etc).  The same may be said for the government stimulus check, which is being erratically dispersed throughout the weeks. To say this is a  devastating blow to the working-class of America, would be a gross understatement., Adjustments MUST be made. conversations MUST be had.

This aid does not reach those who most need it, such as undocumented people, students, and low-wage employees. . Your rental company relies on these demographics to remain in business. Your tenants are not receiving sufficient financial relief, but rather, financial devastation. 

Now, more than ever, all landlords must recognize the personhood of their tenants, and the responsibilities of those who house those persons. You have a humanitarian obligation to those who have kept your company afloat. With costs of living on the rise, the city of Bellingham continues to financially overburden those who are predominantly student workers, service workers, or other minimum wage employees. Please stand in solidarity with us and sign this petition.