‘Set up to fail.’ Where do renters turn as coronavirus takes jobs and May 1 looms?
Effy Francis’ 28th birthday celebration was canceled by the coronavirus on April 2.
It was just the latest disruption to Francis’ life since the virus struck South Carolina in March. Francis’ job at a coffee shop was lost that month when the business closed. Another job at a beauty supply business was lost the day before the planned birthday celebration when Gov. Henry McMaster ordered all non-essential businesses to close.
Now, Francis, who’s non-binary transgender, faces a bigger challenge than a canceled birthday celebration. Like many renters across South Carolina, Francis worries about paying the rent. Francis and others face a looming deadline on May 1, when a ban on evictions ordered by South Carolina’s chief justice expires.
Several tenants who spoke with The State worried how they will pay the rent as jobs and incomes disappear amid the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus.
Charities are ramping up to give out financial assistance to those in need, and state and local lawmakers are looking for government solutions.
But with the surge of the coronavirus, charities will quickly become inundated while debates about solutions from lawmakers may easily push efforts to help renters beyond the next time rent is due. And federal stimulus money may be too little, Francis said.
Francis is still employed but not working any shifts. Catastrophe pay from Francis’ employers helps, but it’s far less than previous paychecks and will soon run out.
“I feel like I’m very much being set up to fail,” Francis said.
‘I’m likely to die’
Francis uses a wheelchair full time because of a medical condition that also creates an immune system issue. Francis’ job and housing options are more limited because they must be wheelchair accessible, and the immunity issues makes it more dangerous to be searching for a new place to live and being out in public.
“I feel like I’m likely to die,” Francis said about the potential of getting COVID-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus.
Francis said that with a laugh, keeping a sense of humor in challenging times.
But Francis didn’t find a letter from the property management company that rents their home funny.
In the letter from Bowman Property Management, the company says it empathized with tenants going through hardships. Still, “our expectation is that rent is paid on time, no questions asked.”
“Any delinquent tenants will be subject to ... evictions proceedings taking place,” the company said.
The company’s letter said it will be charging late fees, which some property management companies have suspended. The letter ended by saying tenants can reach out to the company if anything was needed.
Michael Bowman, founder of the company, said, renters should appreciate that he was clear about his expectations.
“We wanted our tenants just to know we were watching and paying attention,” Bowman said. “People, in general, when you give them an inch a lot of times they’ll take a mile. We wanted to make sure they knew that we weren’t going to give an inch.”
The property manager is acting as if everything’s normal when nothing is normal, Francis said.
The letter came almost a week after the South Carolina Chief Justice Don Beatty ordered on March 17 that all eviction proceedings to be halted until May 1.
Nicole Paluzzi, a housing attorney with Charleston Pro Bono, said tenants should be asking questions and communicating with their property managers if those tenants have lost their jobs or aren’t sure how they’ll pay their rent.
If a job is lost or income gone, renters need to ask their property managers what options are available to keep their housing.
The halted-evictions order from the Supreme Court doesn’t mean a tenant can’t be evicted after the May 1 if the tenant missed April’s rent, Paluzzi said.
Just because a tenant can’t be put out now doesn’t mean “your decisions and actions will not be revisited later,” she said.
That why it’s important that tenants communicate with landlords and property mangers as soon as possible.
Paluzzi said tenants should be “explaining their situation in no uncertain terms” and using the correct language to do so. Use phrases like “I have lost my job” and “significant reduction of my income” and “due to COVID-19.”
A tenant can take some important steps to protect themselves from evictions, according to Paluzzi. They are:
▪ Know details of the lease agreement so a tenant can speak from a point of knowledge
▪ Look for financial aid, from charities and other sources, and let the property manager know this help is being sought
▪ Keep records of all communications with property managers
Paluzzi emphasized that every communication a tenant has with the property manager should be done in writing. That helps a tenant make a case “for your defense before an (eviction) case is even filed.”
Tenants can be removed from their homes within weeks of getting an eviction notice, Paluzzi said.
“The important thing is to stay informed, stay communicative, and keep records,” she said. “Be polite. That can go a long way too.”
The letter from the property manager didn’t make Francis want to be polite. The letter didn’t even seem like the company would care to listen, Francis said.
The letter seemed to say “we don’t really care what’s going on right now,” Francis said.
Charities get inundated
Each day that passes is a day closer to May 1, when Francis likely won’t have money for rent.
The prospect of how to pay rent without a regular income was, at first, nerve racking, Francis said.
“I’ve surpassed the point where I feel anxious about it,” Francis said.
Francis is just beginning the process of looking into unemployment benefits and financial assistance that organizations like United Way of the Midlands can provide.
For someone who has never had to seek assistance or unemployment, the process can feel overwhelming, said Sara Fawcett, CEO of United Way of the Midlands.
“If people can be patient and persistent, they can very much get the help that they need,” Fawcett said.
The United Way of the Midlands just released $70,000 to its nonprofit partners, part of which is providing direct financial assistance to renters and others dealing with income issues.
To get financial assistance, people can call United Way of the Midlands at 211 and speak with an agent who connects the person in need with the organizations that can help.
United Way’s agents also check to see if people need help getting food, child care, mental health support or other kinds of assistance to make sure “that they’re taking advantage of everything that could support you,” Fawcett said.
Requests for assistance are increasing, and Fawcett expects the number of people asking for help paying rent and bills will continue to climb. Soon, the charitable groups that the United Way connects people with will be inundated, she said.
People should think ahead for what their needs will be and contact the United Way now, Fawcett said.
Francis worries that the catastrophe pay will make them ineligible for charity and unemployment benefits. The process for getting those benefits can take weeks and may not come in until after May 1.
‘Compassion and willingness’
Francis said the $1,200 federal stimulus check that many Americans are set to receive through the CARES Act may help pay the rent for one month. But Francis doesn’t know when the money will come, and it may not be enough long-term, especially if the coronavirus keeps most businesses closed through May.
“I can’t even say I’m looking forward to it,” Francis said. “That’s going to help me one time then what happens after that?”
For these reasons, state Rep. Marvin Pendarvis, a Charleston Democrat, said he is looking at what other states have done to help tenants and hopes to adopt those measures in South Carolina.
Pendarvis said part of the state’s budget surplus could be put toward helping renters and he’s trying to push his State House colleagues to have “a serious look at providing relief for tenants.”
“Unfortunately we aren’t there yet,” Pendarvis said.
A predicted $1.9 billion state budget surplus for next year has been lowered to about $700 million with the coronavirus-induced economic downturn.
No legislation to help renters has been introduced yet, he said.
But Pendarvis is seeing what other state agencies might be able to help renters.
Pendarvis is looking federally, too. He’s working with U.S. Reps Jim Clyburn of Columbia and Joe Cunningham of James Island, both Democrats, as well as Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott, to ensure part of any future D.C. stimulus money goes directly toward helping renters and the organizations that assist them.
Pendarvis said he also supports state Supreme Court Chief Justice Don Beatty extending his halt on evictions past May 1, or legislators’ enshrining an extension into law for a certain time. But he wants the no-evictions order to be coupled with some sort of relief, possibly mortgage freezes on rental properties, for landlords as their families feel the effects of tenants not being able to pay rent.
Local politicians are also taking action to help renters.
Recently, Richland County Council allocated $500,000 for food assistance to low to moderate households and seniors, which are groups that often rent.
Council member Chakisse Newton, who represents a portion of Lower Richland, is proposing that council put another $250,000 toward Richland County residents’ critical needs, which includes money for housing.
“Richland County has a responsibility in assisting our residents with weathering the storm,” Newton said. “Anything that we can do to help a community ... that’s our obligation.”
For Francis, the one thing that can help the most is “compassion and willingness to work with me.”
On the birthday that was to go uncelebrated, Effy Francis came into the living room to find a banner made by a roommate that said “HAPPY BDAY EFFY!” Then some friends got together for an online hangout with Francis.
It was a reminder that friends were there even if rent money isn’t.
To find out how to get rental assistance through the United Way of the Midlands call 211 or visit www.uway.org/get-help
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 5:00 AM.