A coalition from across the country wants to see all payments of rent and mortgages put on hold during the coronavirus crisis.
"Councilmembers Kristin Gisleson Palmer and Jay H. Banks will join representatives from other major U.S. cities to urge state and federal officials to cancel rent payments and impose a moratorium on mortgages," according to a news release from the New Orleans city councilmembers.
They are joining with elected leaders from Boston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland, San Francisco, and Seattle to express their support for the movement.
They say allowing people to not pay mortgages or rent would be "commonsense actions that will provide some measure of relief for workers and families struggling because of the pandemic."
Gisleson Palmer and Banks says the mandatory stay at home order due to the COVID-19 health crisis, has forced businesses to close and has left thousands of residents unable to work.
"The coronavirus shutdown of our city, particularly the tourism industry, has left thousands of residents unemployed or furloughed, with rent and mortgage payments due in the coming days. Our local and state governments have already provided temporary protections to prevent immediate foreclosures or evictions. Still, we have to do more to secure housing for people severely impacted by this crisis. Protecting public health means ensuring that our residents have a stable roof over their heads," said Councilmember Kristin Gisleson Palmer.
"Business as we once knew it has changed, and will remain so until this crisis has passed. Countless individuals cannot work due to no fault of their own. Our country has enough resources to bail out corporations, and we have enough to bail out our citizens. People across this nation have enough to worry about without trying to keep themselves and their families alive. Pressing pause on mortgage payments is not just the right thing to do; it is the only thing to do," said Councilmember Jay H. Banks.
