No one should lose their livelihood to the coronavirus (COVID-19) just as no one should lose a loved one to it. Nobody should lose their home to it, either.

It's why we, the Pittsburgh Union of Regional Renters (PURR), are informing elected officials that we are canceling rent throughout the state of emergency in response to the coronavirus. We are canceling utilities, canceling mortgages and demanding a recovery period for each, in addition to all public needs.

We are also calling out to the tenants of the Pittsburgh area to – safely – organize with your neighbors. We know we need each other to keep our shelter in place. We will support you with resources, tips and materials for working with those neighbors, even remotely, ways to protect yourselves as you choose to withold rent, and connections with our organizers as we all fight to Cancel Rent.

UPDATE: Though the eviction moratorium has been extended, landlords are still exploiting loopholes to put people out on the street. It is more important than ever we band together as a community to fight them on this.

Each one of us knows Pittsburgh is already mired in a housing crisis of both affordability and habitability. We also know only we have the power to stand up for each other.

Any landlord who feels sympathetic but threatened by this moment should know two things:
1.) Because we did not create this crisis you won't solve it by demanding money people don’t have. Instead we encourage you to seek relief from your respective lenders, and the same government we’re petitioning. That’s why we’re asking for mortgage cancellation as well.
2.) We, renters, know we have to have each others' backs. There are those among us who can pay rent this month, but in solidarity with those who cannot, will choose not to.

Anyone is welcome to join us in demanding the following:

—Cancel rent
—Cancel mortgages
—Extend the eviction moratorium (currently expiring Aug. 31)
—Provide protective equipment for all workers
—Guarantee shelter to the unhomed
—Guarantee paid sick leave
—Decarcerate the Allegheny County jail. It remains a health risk.

People should never have to put a price on their health in the first place, but least of all now. Facing a public health crisis we didn't create on top of a housing crisis we certainly didn't either, we simply refuse to let you pass one more cost onto renters.

We are already organizing to make sure you can't.

Ours,
PURR