Jonathan was a surgeon and epidemiologist before he fell prey to a series of spinal injuries and cardiac events.
Now he also suffers from COVID-19.
Rather than fighting for his next breath, Jonathan said, he wishes he could be out in the world helping other victims of the pandemic breathe easier. However, he remains confined to his apartment where even the vibrations of children playing in the building compound his suffering.
Many people seem to think doctors observe the pain of others with clinical detachment, he said.
“Most of them are real human beings who are hurting about how much they can’t help,” said Jonathan. “And I share that feeling.”
Jonathan was among the people, most of them struggling renters, who shared their stories and opinions April 4 at the teleconference town hall meeting hosted by the Community Alliance of Tenants to discuss issues surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.
Most of their last names are withheld at their request, with the exception of people who work directly with the alliance.
Jason works with the Cascades AIDS Project and helps people who are HIV-positive with rental assistance.
“What I’m seeing is landlords who are stopping move-ins,” Jason said. “I have a lot of folks who are houseless and qualified to move in, but landlords aren’t doing anything to help people move in.”
Erin said she left her job at a delivery service to quarantine herself with her four teenagers. Although she’s filed for unemployment insurance, she said she’s concerned that she doesn’t have sufficient proof that she left her job because of health concerns.
Her concern extends beyond getting sick.
“All students in Centennial, David Douglas and Gresham/Barlow most likely will not return to school,” she said. “As a mom of four teens in these districts … wow. I have no idea what impact that will have.”
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown on March 22 declared a 90-day moratorium on evictions for nonpayment of rent, but Erin said the reverberations of the pandemic will be felt well beyond June.
“Everyone is in that shock and awe moment with COVID-19, but what’s going to happen the month after that and the month after?” she said. “By June 30, a lot of people aren’t going to be able to pay.”
Delfina, who spoke through a translator, said she faces the same fear.
“Even with that period of time, it will be difficult to catch up with back payments,” she said.
Many people had to make huge down payments to get into their homes, Delfina said. She suggested a program where back rent can be taken from those payments.
A renter named Taj said she deals with more than economic and health issues because of the pandemic.
“I don’t have COVID-19, but I have other illnesses, and it’s hard to keep going without any contact, social support,” she said.
Community Alliance of Tenants leaders said they wanted to hear people’s voices to make sure they’re also heard as state and local government officials take action during the pandemic. Saturday’s town hall was held via Zoom video conferencing technology.
“This is a big shift for those of us who are used to organizing on the ground,” said Jesse Sharpe, a regional organizer for the alliance, who facilitated the meeting.
Participants generally agreed the moratorium on evictions needs to extend beyond the 90 days originally specified in the governor’s executive order. They also advocated a freeze on rent increases, also extending beyond the next three months.
“Ninety days is not a lot of time,” Sharpe said.
Maig Tinnin, a tenant leader with the Southern Oregon Tenant Leadership Council, also advocated a rent freeze.
“Likely a rent freeze would have to happen at the state level,” she said. “I think we also need some strong legal support to make the argument.”
However, Tinnin added, legal arguments can sometimes have a reverse effect.
“As we know, legality is an argument often used to justify putting profits over people,” she said.
Marih Alyn-Claire, who does outreach for the alliance, said some landlords are seeking renewed ability to raise rents during the pandemic.
“We should absolutely knock the hell out of that,” she said.
She also voiced support for extending the eviction moratorium as long as possible.
“We need a realistic moratorium, not people worrying about this while they’re getting sick,” she said.
Alyn-Claire sympathized with Erin, the mother trying to document why she left work because of the coronavirus.
“It’s hard to communicate and get documents moving back and forth,” Alyn-Claire said.
Jensi Albright, the community engagement director for the alliance, said the organization is there for people who need help.
“The organizing team is responding night and day to tenants in crisis,” she said.
The alliance’s new website provides consistently updated information in English, Spanish and Vietnamese, said Dung Ho, the organization’s tenant education and support director.
Alyn-Claire suggested people take time in isolation and document what’s happening to them.
“It’s these things we take to our city officials and legislators” because they need that information to draft policies, she said. “They haven’t systematized anything because it was all done in a rush.”
Jonathan, the physician, said it helps just to know community support exists.
“I’m sure some people have it worse than me,” he said. “For some delusional reason, I still believe I’m a tough guy.”