I always answer this question one way: I go to college to get more job opportunities, and most jobs require you to have a college degree. With the high debt that a college education incurs, going into college is not so much a free choice as it is an investment in your future.
After universities transitioned to online courses in March, many students found themselves struggling to adapt to the sudden change. Some students lacked a reliable internet connection, while others did not have the technology required for classwork. Most students who held on-campus jobs were laid off as unemployment rates soared across the nation.
My roommate lost her on-campus job, and being immunocompromised, she decided it would be best to move back home to be with her family. Safety and security were also my top priority, so I decided to move back home as well. However, due to our lease, we each continued to pay around $800 in monthly rent. Even though we had both vacated the apartment, we were stuck in a joint contract that did not allow early cancellation.
While I was more fortunate, I was still affected. My summer internship was canceled and paying rent on that apartment drained the little money I had in my bank account. To top it off, $10,000 in student loans is now hovering over me. Thousands of students like us are facing similar or worse economic hardships.
There has been much media coverage on the economic situations of low-income families, specifically those who belong to marginalized communities and are at high risk of becoming homeless, in the face of this pandemic. However, college students are another financially vulnerable group that needs aid too.
Yes, landlords need financial aid from the state and federal government to cover the costs of mortgages, insurance rates, and property taxes, which are all valid concerns. Still, these are concerns that do not invalidate the need to cancel students’ leases. Rental relief for students is not a zero-sum game.
Most importantly, direct action needs to be taken. Governor Gavin Newsom needs to release the lease and allow students to break rental contracts without penalty, and we should raise our voices until he does.