Why is it so difficult to lend help to the future of this country?
That hope has been fickle lately.
As a freshman at California State University Northridge, not only do I fear catching COVID-19, but I have the burden of a useless, yet legally binding lease, hanging over my every waking thought.
I thought my landlord would understand when I wanted to break my lease around campus because everything had transitioned to remote learning. I was promptly told that I couldn’t do that. I would have to continue paying for an apartment that I wasn’t using. COVID-19, coupled with the inability to break our leases, has created a seemingly unending battle between pursuing higher education and making rent on time.
Most California schools are distance learning, but the same restrictions on leases for off-campus housing remain. Some places charge a huge cancellation fee and others require that tenets find someone else to take over the lease – a tall order near a campus with no students. If landlords are not extending leniency in light of this pandemic and massive recession, then it’s time for Governor Newsom to act.
Governor Newsom needs to provide relief by supporting lease cancellation without penalty or face the reality that millions of students will be put in dangerous circumstances if they are forced to decide between rent and food. Legislators need to act now.
Alexia Barajas is finishing her second year at California State University Northridge where she is interested in pursuing Public Relations. Her passions include community empowerment, public relations, and social justice. In the future, Alexia is looking forward to continuing her education and further exploring community advocacy in working with non-profit organizations.