On March 17, 2020, the city of El Paso made several orders in response to the ongoing global pandemic of Covid-19. While an eviction moratorium was set in place for 30 days. Currently El Pasoans are facing loss of work hours, or unemployment altogether as the number of El Pasoans testing positive for Covid-19 continue to climb and protective measures are taken, such the Stay at Home order now in place restricting movement to and from home and businesses. While these measures are crucial and necessary for public safety, we must also address what the impact of Covid-19 will have on our access to housing.

We ask that during this crisis, the city of El Paso enacts a moratorium on rent, in order to allow El Pasoans who are financially impacted by Covid-19 to keep their homes without missing payments on rent which would only lead to massive unpayable debts and possibly even an increase in evictions city-wide after the eviction moratorium is lifted. A rent freeze would ensure El Pasoans who rent homes their safety and health in the long-term, and reduce the lasting negative impact that Covid-19 might have on us.

We demand that Mayor Dee Margo and El Paso City Council

1. Set a freeze on both mortgages AND rent

2. Set rent forgiveness measures

3. Protect tenants from landlord retaliation

for the health and safety and security of all El Pasoans during this emergency.