You don’t think it can happen to you until it does. When the pandemic hit, it didn’t care who it hurt or who was left behind. Neither did the vicious leasing offices in downtown San Jose. At the time, I lived in an apartment across the street from campus, with a few roommates.
That was until Coronavirus hit, everything changed. Classes were moved online, and San Jose’s reported cases of the virus were sharply increasing, so I had no choice but to immediately move back home, as it was the most practical option for me.
We were financially struggling due to the pandemic and were barely making rent for our current home, let alone extra payments for a house I wasn’t living in. We terminated our original lease a few months earlier, but it was an incredibly tedious process. After a long battle, I finally moved out of the first apartment but was still locked into the lease for the new apartment. The leasing office’s policy was essentially: we don’t care if you’re sick, financially unable to make your payments, or whether you’re able to move in or not. You still owe us $13,000 and if you want to get out of your lease, it’s on you to find your replacement.
This pandemic has touched all aspects of society in some way or shape. There is no shame in speaking up about any kind of setbacks, including financial ones, as we’re all going through similar issues. We need more compassion and understanding and less judgment during these difficult and stressful times. We need to speak up and stand together.
I know I am not alone.
Myenn Rahnoma is a second year Journalism major at San Jose State University. She’s passionate about helping others and advocating for their issues, ranging from mental health to basic human rights. In the future, she hopes to continue supporting her community and raising awareness on societal issues.