by Jim Fischer and Susan Walker
COVID-19 is an ongoing crisis for the Greenbelt community. Many residents are facing eviction and can’t meet basic needs because they lost their jobs due to the pandemic. They have used all their resources, including retirement savings, and they owe rent. Without help, families may end up in their cars or on the street.
The impact of evictions is a spiraling crisis. In the experience of Greenbelt CARES and the Greenbelt Interfaith Leadership Association (GILA), most renters facing eviction are single mothers. They earn minimum wage, which often is not a living wage, and consequently work multiple jobs. Evictions can affect the family’s ability to get new housing, lower their credit rating and diminish their long-term physical and mental health.
The city has received $380,000 in Federal Cares Act funding for rental assistance through the Prince George’s County government. This will help 100 to 125 families but can only be used for citizens or
people who are documented. There may be hundreds more families in eviction status in apartment complexes in Greenbelt. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an eviction moratorium order September 4, effective through December 31 of this year, under a public health law aimed at preventing spread of the coronavirus through eviction. Future federal help is uncertain, because the U.S. Congress has not passed additional economic assistance for families, and it is unclear how long the eviction moratorium will be extended.
Here are two options for generous Greenbelters to channel funds to assist local residents. First is the food pantry to which the city refers those seeking help, administered by St. Hugh Catholic Church. The pantry finds itself mostly serving Franklin Park residents. It has been able to keep up with increased demand because Greenbelt residents, through the Greenbelt Co-op Supermarket, are providing around 150 bags of non-perishable groceries per week by buying prepared bags designated for the pantry at checkout. The bags are then transported to the pantry by St. Hugh’s volunteers. The pantry also accepts gift cards (e.g., $50 or $100) for any local grocery store to supplement the bags of non-perishables by allowing the purchase of milk, meat and vegetables.
St. Hugh’s Food Pantry is located at St. Hugh of Grenoble Church, 135 Crescent Road. Non-perishable food donations can be put in the pink plastic bin outside the rectory side door and gift cards can be put through the mail slot in the door.
Second are two emergency funds administered for the city by Greenbelt CARES. GILA, which is comprised of Greenbelt faith communities whose mission is to promote communication and tolerance, has partnered with the city since the 1970s to help people in need. These efforts have evolved into the Emergency Assistance Fund (eviction relief) and the Good Samaritan Fund (non-eviction relief), both administered on behalf of the community by Greenbelt CARES. No city funds are used. All monies in the account are donations.
Greenbelt CARES formed as a counseling service in 1974. Over the years they have developed a process to investigate emergency relief applicants:
• Contact the landlord and verify the amount owed by the applicant,
• Verify the applicant won’t be evicted once they pay the back rent owed,
• Verify the status of the applicant’s job situation,
• Refer applicants to other help sources when they qualify, and
• Put together a help package from several sources.
People can donate to these funds in several ways:
1. Make checks out to Greenbelt CARES, indicate either Emergency Assistance Fund or Good Samaritan Fund in the memo space and mail to Greenbelt CARES, 25 Crescent Road, Greenbelt, MD 20770; or place checks in the secure drop-box at that address.
2. Go to the Charitable-Fund page on the city website (greenbeltmd.gov/government/city-administration/finance/Charitable-Fund), fill out the form and contribute using PayPal (or PayPal Guest, where credit cards are accepted).
Greenbelters always want to help their neighbors, but no one can do this alone. If everyone can help a little, the combined efforts may be able to prevent a tsunami of evictions in the Greenbelt community.
Jim Fischer and Susan Walker are members of the Greenbelt Interfaith Leadership Association.
