With rents coming due April 1, tenant advocates are pushing the federal and provincial governments to provide rent forgiveness or cash relief during the COVID-19 emergency.

While the governments have made broad statements, there has been no specific policy outlining how the province plans to help renters in Ontario.

On Thursday, when asked about the looming April 1 date, Premier Doug Ford repeated his previous direction that evictions be suspended during the outbreak.

Then he added: “If you can’t pay rent and you’re just in an absolute crisis, then you don’t have to pay rent.”

When asked later what that means — Would cash relief be provided? Would landlords be compensated? — a spokesperson for Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark clarified there is no legislation being passed or program in place.

“To tenants who are having challenges paying rent: please speak to your landlord about whether it can be postponed or if other payment arrangements can be agreed to,” spokesperson Julie O’Driscoll said in a statement. “And landlords: please be as flexible as you can. We are encouraging landlords and tenants to work together during this difficult time to establish fair arrangements to preserve tenancies.”

Geordie Dent, the executive director of the Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations, said that puts tenants in a “terrible” position and they hope some government relief will come soon.

“Most tenants pay their rent and most tenants don’t like living in tremendous instability,” he said. “What you’re looking at right now is a bunch of people who can’t and they’re being put in a very precarious position.”

He said tenants are calling their hotline asking for help.

“What we’re saying is, if it’s between feeding your family and paying your landlord’s mortgage, feed your family,” Dent said.

But it’s not clear what will happen when the temporary ban on evictions lifts.

“We’re terrified about what’s going to happen in the next six months,” he said.

Bryan Doherty, who lives in Parkdale, says he’s out of work and won’t be able to pay rent April 1.

Doherty, a member of Parkdale Organize and part of a campaign called Keep Your Rent that is urging tenants to not pay their April rent during the COVID-19 crisis, said Ford’s words and the fact evictions are on hold for now are not any kind of assurance.

“The level of indifference and afterthought that this is being given is totally insane,” he said.

Asking that rent forgiveness and deferral be dealt with on a case-by-case basis won’t work for everyone, he said.

“Let’s say hypothetically my rent is like $1,100 and I have $850 in the bank because my hours have been cut this month. What’s the math that Doug Ford wants me to do there? I know the math my landlord’s going to want me to do, which is $850. And then I’ll owe the rest next month. That’s the situation that tenants are being put in.”

This week, the B.C. government announced it would provide a rent supplement of up to $500 a month for those experiencing financial hardship who didn’t qualify for other rental programs. The money will be paid directly to landlords.

“With lost jobs and lost wages due to COVID-19, many tenants are worried they can’t make the rent. It’s a challenging time for landlords too,” B.C. Premier John Horgan is quoted as saying on the government’s website.

Ontario’s new economic plan responding to the COVID-19 outbreak does not mention “rent” or “tenants” once.

When asked about the B.C. program at a press conference on Thursday, Minister of Finance Rod Phillips mentioned funding that’s being provided to other specific groups, like parents, and how the government’s plan is “best supporting the Ontario people.”

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Clark’s spokesperson also noted a recently announced federal taxable benefit of $2,000 a month for up to four months for eligible workers who have lost wages.

In Toronto there are 525,835 rental households — 47 per cent of all households in the city — according to the most recent figures available. A total of 30 per cent of households in Ontario were renting, the same data shows.

Daryl Chong, president and CEO of the Greater Toronto Apartment Association representing landlords, said they’re hopeful governments will provide relief, and that those who can pay rent should.

He reiterated the province’s message about tenants speaking to landlords if they need accommodations.

“We’re not cold and heartless individuals or companies,” Chong said.

He said animosity between tenants and landlords exists “more in the media than in reality” and that the “vast majority” have great relationships. Where that relationship doesn’t exist, Chong said he believes a landlord would still have a “compassionate ear,” given the situation.

Coun. Josh Matlow (Ward 12 Toronto-St. Paul’s), who has advocated for tenant rights at city hall, said the provincial freeze on evictions was an important step.

“Renters need to know that they have a home to stay in during this crisis and that while their most important concern is for their health, they’re not stressed about how to even make their monthly rent.”

Matlow said he’s getting lots of concerned emails from constituents, including about what happens after the eviction ban lifts and there are months of unpaid rent cheques.

“The province needs to provide a clear and immediate plan that everyone can understand that ensures that tenants don’t need to worry about their rent, when their focus should be on their health — and landlords understand how their losses will be offset,” Matlow said.

NDP MPP Chris Glover, who represents Spadina-Fort York, said renters should have been part of the Ford government’s economic plan.

“Times like this is when the government needs to step up and support people. We all need to be working together to make sure everyone comes out of this hole at the end,” he said.

A paper called “The Rent is Due Soon” published by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives on Monday put a spotlight on the coming cash crisis for renters.

Of the 3.4 million Canadians who rely on wages, salaries or self-employment to pay rent, nearly half have less than a month’s savings and a third have two weeks or less, author Ricardo Tranjan, a political economist and senior research at the centre, found using Statistics Canada data.

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