Jefferson County was well into a housing emergency before COVID-19. Now, even more people might become housing-insecure or move away due to lost income. State and federal benefits will help many, yet others don’t qualify or will fall through the cracks of receiving aid, and some will find that $1,200 isn’t enough. Loans and deferred payments simply contribute to piling debts. We can all imagine how the consequences of this economic stall will exacerbate local challenges: weaker businesses, fewer families, a stagnant economy and a dulled community.
The sustainability of our small Jefferson County community relies on how individuals step up to share the burden of this pandemic. Some landlords are doing their part by choosing to halve, eliminate or craft work-trade alternatives for April rent. This is a critical step landlords can take to keep individuals and families stable throughout this crisis. Other community members plan to pass on their stimulus check to individuals in greater need. These are the quiet heroes who know that when rents and mortgages are paid or forgiven, we all win.
For folks who find they do not need the federal stimulus, one of the most impactful ways to make that money useful is to contribute to the Jefferson Community Foundation’s emergency response fund. The fund has already distributed $114,000 to local nonprofits that are providing critical services, including rent relief. A team of grant-makers assesses the landscape of needs on a weekly basis to make sure every dollar goes where it can be most effective. Contribute to the fund at jcfgives.org.
For folks who have lost income, there are several organizations providing financial assistance. Dove House and OlyCAP have both expanded their services to give rent relief to people who have been impacted by COVID-19. St. Vincent de Paul and JeffCo Mutual Aid are providing smaller amounts of assistance, such as for phone, internet and utility bills. Jefferson County Immigrant Rights Advocates provides assistance to immigrants. Some of these funds might be temporarily empty, but additional donations and grants from the JCF emergency response fund continue to refill each.
The COVID-19 pandemic is pushing us all to see our individual well-being as integrally related to the well-being of others as a greater whole.
“I wear a mask for you, you wear a mask for me” has become a mantra. Those who are sick self-quarantine to protect their community, and those who are well deliver their groceries. So too, we share resources with neighbors, tenants, and fellow humans because we know each person’s health and stability contributes to the health and stability of our community that we all rely on.
I will continue to keep a pulse on the housing needs of Jefferson County’s workforce and contribute “Housing Hub” as a monthly column. Share your stories and get connected at justine@jcfgives.org or visit housingsolutionsnetwork.org.
(Justine Gonzalez-Berg is the Network Weaver for Housing Solutions Network and a trustee for Homeward Bound Community Land Trust.)
