Rent Due For Many Across Philadelphia During Coronavirus Pandemic

Matt Petrillo reports.

BACK TO OUR NEWS COVERAGETODAY IS APRIL 1ST, THE DAYTHAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEENLOOKING FORWARD TO.IT IS THE FIRST TIME THAT MANYRENTERS AND HOMEOWNERS HAVEHAD TO PAY LANDLORDS.SINCE BROAD STREET OR BROAD,RATHER, STAY AT HOME ORDERSHAVE BEEN IN EFFECT."EYEWITNESS NEWS" REPORTERMATT PETRILLO TELLS US RELIEFIS COMING FOR SOME.WITH SO MANY BUSINESSESSHUTTERED, SOME 900,000 PEOPLEAPPLIED FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INPENNSYLVANIA OVER THE PASTSEVERAL WEEKS.SOME ARE LIVING PAYCHECK TOPAYCHECK.AND JUST DON'T HAVE THE MEANSTO COVER BILLS LIKE RENT, BUTSOME LANDLORDS DON'T CARE.NO ONE IS ALLOWED OUT OFTHEIR LEASE Z- 22 YEAR OLDCARTER PEW, OF EASTGERMANTOWN, SAYS HER TWOROOMMATES RECENTLY LOST THEIRJOBS.SHE HAS BEEN OUT OF WORK FOR AFEW WEEKS, AFTER BEING SICK,AND ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, THEYWERE STILL HUNDREDS OF DOLLARSSHORT OF THEIR RENT.MY ROOMMATES AND I AREDRAFT AGO LETTER TO BASICALLYBEG AND ASK TO GET LET OUT OFOUR LEASE EARLY, BECAUSE WESIMPLY CANNOT AFFORD IT.BUT PHILADELPHIA MAYOR JIMKENNEY ANNOUNCED THE CITY ISHALTING EVICTION HEARINGS,UNTIL AT LEAST APRIL 5TH.FOR MOST, THIS IS THEBIGGEST SINGLE BILL THEY PAYEACH MONTH.COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE WORKINGTO SUSPEND RENT AND MORTGAGEPAYMENTS, FOR CITY RESIDENTSBEYOND THAT.WE DEFINITELY NEEDPROTECTION FOR THOSE WHO ARELOST THEIR INCOME.SUSPENDING HEARINGS FOR THEREST OF THE MONDAY, THAT'SGOOD NEWS TO TENANTS FACEBEING HARD TIMES.I FEEL REALLY LUCK.I AND HERE IN PHILADELPHIA,CITY LEADERS ALSO SAY PEOPLEWILL NOT HAVE TO WORRY ABOUTMOST UTILITIES SHUTTING OFFFOR THE WEST OF THE -- REST OF