Where do you live?

 

President Biden has asked Congress to set aside $30 billion to help the more than 10 million households who were behind on rent last month by passing his ‘$1.9 trillion stimulus package’. That bill, if passed, would extend the eviction moratorium through September 2021.

Over 107 million people -- or about one-third of the US population -- live in rental households, most of which have been protected by some form of an eviction moratorium since Congress passed the initial ‘CARES Act’ back in March.

The current order, which Congress extended in December, had been set to expire Jan. 31.

It established a $25 billion rent relief fund but imposed income limits in order to qualify, with priority going to the lowest-earning households as well as those in which someone is currently unemployed.

Adding to the difficulty, some local jurisdictions have continued with evictions despite the nationwide ban.

A January report by the ‘Jobs with Justice Education Fund’ traces $320 million in federal pandemic assistance to 197 corporate landlords who collectively filed 5,381 evictions between March and October.

The current eviction ban requires renters who’ve fallen behind on their rent to submit a signed declaration form to their landlord stating they’ve lost income due to the corona virus pandemic and have made an effort to look for financial assistance, as well as a few other conditions.

Got it?

After food, shelter is our most important need. We all need a place to get out of the rain and cold. We need a place to sleep and keep our stuff.

It maybe called ‘home’ or ‘apartment’ or ‘room’.

Shelter may require a mortgage payment or rent due. Unless owned, you have to pay someone else to live there.

And when you can’t…?

You’ve seen them. ‘The Homeless’ is what they are called, because, well they have no place to call ‘home’. There is no address to get their mail. There is no phone to call to remind them to pay their taxes. There is no driveway to park the car or shelves to hold their books or kitchens to cook their food. There is no bed.

You’ve seen ‘them’ next to the railroad tracks. You’ve seen ‘them’ under bridges. You’ve seen ‘them’ pushing grocery carts full of their belongings. You’ve seen ‘them’ sitting on milk crates at intersections with cardboard signs begging for money.

Without a job there is no income. Without income there is no money for rent (or food). Without rent, comes eviction.

With more people losing their jobs due to the pandemic, additional training unavailable or unaffordable the federal government is trying to take tax dollars to assist the NGOs and faith-base organizations trying to keep them afloat. The lucky ones find a space for a tent city.

If this trend continues, where will all the tent cities go?

The US of the A is a large country with lots of land.

 

There are miles of sand along our coastlines that could house a tent city. Unlike a tourist site only used for three months a year, the beach could become permanent housing like our colonizing relatives. The revolving water could wash bodies and clothing but not too good to drink. It could be used to relieve oneself, but it just flows back. The ocean is the biggest supermarket if you like fish. They got surfing too!

 

The theme parks seem to be closed due to the virus. There is plenty of room for tents and what better place to stay than on Space Mountain or in the Magic Kingdom? There are all kinds of food stands and bathrooms. Who wouldn’t want to have an address of Disneyland?

 

Kids need some space to run around so why not those vast swashes of grass called golf courses. There is lots of space and very little use. There are sandboxes for the little ones and water hazards for cleansing. Though no facilities, the fairways are lined with woods.

 

As seen on shows like “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” these mansions purchased by our idols have massive manicured lawns. They have enough space to share. It might even be a tax write-off? There are swimming pools, lawn chairs, and decks with great views. Better than living under a highway overpass.

These are but a few choices. There are campgrounds, cruise ships, abandoned warships in mothball, abandoned office high rises and closed dance floors.

Get ready for some new neighbors. They may need to use your address for their mail.