10 votes

$45 billion in US rent relief was seen as the solution to a possible wave of evictions. It ran headfirst into reality.

4 comments

  1. spit-evil-olive-tips
    Link
    greatest country in the world.

    But despite this unprecedented level of federal aid, people like Emilie Ashbes are still in crisis.

    “I’m terrified. I’m so terrified to spend money,” the 31-year-old Floridian told me as she shopped at Walmart for household supplies. “I literally donated eggs to [make rent]. I’m selling off body parts.”

    Ashbes, who says she works 11- or 12-hour shifts without a break at a Texas Roadhouse to afford her $1,300-a-month rent, didn’t even know she could apply for rent relief.

    Technically, she couldn’t, until the week before last when the state opened up its rent relief application process, the Tampa Bay Times reports. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County, where Ashbes resides, has already closed its program for applications.

    greatest country in the world.

    13 votes
  2. [2]
    Gaywallet
    Link
    We've spent so much time figuring out how to make money as inaccessible as possible, instead of putting it directly in the hands of Americans. How much money has been spent on the process as...

    We've spent so much time figuring out how to make money as inaccessible as possible, instead of putting it directly in the hands of Americans. How much money has been spent on the process as compared to how much is theoretically going to be doled out? How many people have depleted their savings waiting on this money? How many other countries simply gave their residents payments so that they wouldn't have to worry about employment during a pandemic?

    If any time was ever the time to test out universal basic income, it was in the last year. Instead, we promised money which we never gave out. It's disheartening. We can do better. We should be ashamed.

    10 votes
    1. Thrabalen
      Link Parent
      Not just UBI (but yes, UBI). We could have had healthcare reform and workplace reform (more days off, forgiveness for sick days without pay, etc.)

      Not just UBI (but yes, UBI). We could have had healthcare reform and workplace reform (more days off, forgiveness for sick days without pay, etc.)

      7 votes
  3. AugustusFerdinand
    Link
    Not much to be said that isn't in the article, it's a longstanding issue that can be attested to by anyone that's worked for or with the government. Ever-so-slightly-off-topic, the color choices...

    Not much to be said that isn't in the article, it's a longstanding issue that can be attested to by anyone that's worked for or with the government.

    Ever-so-slightly-off-topic, the color choices for the map are awful. If you're going to use three data points and assign them light blue, blue, and dark blue don't make the two darker colors the ends of the spectrum and the lighter one the middle.

    3 votes