This petition is written on the behalf of Ventura County residents demanding that our local government ensure the financial and mental wellbeing of our community members. We demand that our community establish rent-forgiveness to ensure that Ventura-County families will not be displaced due to the economic effects of this virus. By rent-forgiveness, we mean that months of unpaid rent during this crisis should not become debt that may displace Ventura tenants and their families. Not only do we demand that Ventura County move forward with rent-forgiveness to protect residential tenants, but small, commercial businesses tenants as well. We demand that the policy of rent-forgiveness continue until the threat of Covid-19 is officially over with.

Below, I have provided statistics and information regarding Ventura County during this Pandemic.

At the moment, Governor Newsom’s “Stay at Home” order has no set end-date, and vaccines look about 10-18 months away. Meanwhile, he has established a sixty-day, statewide moratorium on all evictions effective through May 31st, 2020. He also gave local governments the power to create their own ordinances.

Under Ventura County’s current ordinance, tenants in unincorporated parts of the county must notify their landlord that they cannot pay rent due to the Coronavirus, within 30 days of their rent's due date. Reasons for nonpayment of rent can include layoffs or a reduction in work hours, medical expenses or childcare costs related to the coronavirus. Tenants must notify their landlord in writing, and must provide documentation of the lost income or additional expenses.

In the case that Governor Newsom does not extend the moratorium, tenants would be required to begin paying off those three-months’ rent. Moreover, some cities around Ventura county may give tenants only six months after the local emergency has ended to repay their back due rent. This is a stress that we should not be putting on the working-class during such a crisis. This pandemic is leading to economic decline and rent-debt will not do tenants much better.

The Ventura County Star reports that Camarillo-based economics predict April unemployment numbers for Ventura County will be above 20% and possibly as high as 30%. To put this into perspective, there were about 420,000 people in the Ventura County workforce as of February 2020.

A 20% unemployment rate would translate into 84,000 people being out of work just in Ventura County. A 30% rate would mean 126,000 people jobless.

What does this mean for a Ventura tenant? They face the glooming threat of unemployment, contracting disease at work, and the insurmountable rent-debt they will have accumulated towards the end of this crisis.

This literally means life or death for many. Forcing tenants to pay rent during this time of crisis will only work to financially, and mentally strain Mainstreet Californians, and especially lower-income households. Rent-debt will force sick workers to continue working just so they can afford their bills. Children will be left at home alone as single-parents become unable to afford childcare while they work jin order to pay rent. Suicide rates will go up as people become overwhelmed by the amount of debt they have. Most importantly, if those unable to pay their rent now are forced to pay their dues later as this situation gets worse, there is no doubt they have a high chance of becoming displaced in the future. We have the opportunity to propel our government in the right direction during this time of crisis. Rent Forgiveness for all!

Citations

“Governor Newsom Takes Executive Action to Establish a Statewide Moratorium on Evictions.” California Governor, Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, 27 Mar. 2020, www.gov.ca.gov/2020/03/27/governor-newsom-takes-executive-action-to-establish-a-statewide-moratorium-on-evictions/

“List: When Stay-at-Home Orders Are Set to Expire in All 50 States.” The Mercury News, The Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2020, www.mercurynews.com/2020/04/15/coronavirus-list-when-stay-at-home-orders-are-set-to-expire-in-all-50-states/

Rode, Erin. “Coronavirus: For Many, Rent Is Due April 1. Here's What You Need to Do If You Can't Pay.” Ventura County Star, Ventura County Star, 2 Apr. 2020, www.vcstar.com/story/news/local/2020/04/01/coronavirus-california-housing-rent-state-cities-county-protecting-renters-evictions/5088503002/