Before the pandemic put the United States on the brink of an economic crisis, Sarahí Mendoza He anticipated that it would impact his neighbors in East Palo Alto, a small northern California city where 62% of the population is Hispanic.
–
Although that municipality is in the heart of Silicon Valley, a region famous for its high-tech companies, there 12.6% of its inhabitants are poor and not even in dreams can they buy a home in that area, whose average value is $ 700,000, according to data from the Census Bureau.
–
“When everything about the pandemic began, I knew very early that the undocumented community was going to be one of the most affected, because they were not going to qualify for any government assistance,” says Mendoza in an interview with this newspaper. “Many times they are the most forgotten”, the Mint.
–
In 2014, when Mendoza was still undocumented, he created the application Dreamers Roadmap for paperless students to receive financial aid. That same initiative helped this young woman to help other immigrants, who now they don’t have money to pay the rent nor buy food.
–
This is how the campaign was born #FirstOfTheMonth, 1st of the month, by the date the tenants must send the rent to their landlords. Dreamers Roadmap teamed up with the Kafenia and Live In Peace organizations to create an emergency fund. They already fulfilled the first objective, raise a million dollars, helping 298 families low-income in the San Francisco Bay Area, of which 95% are Hispanic. That money was raised in just 10 days.
–
“It inspired us to make a new goal of two million dollars,” Mendoza said.
–
To date, the three groups have raised over $ 1.7 million and they hope to reach the desired figure soon. When that happens, they hope to help at least 300 families who are at risk of being left on the street.
–
“The neighbors have to support the neighbors”
More than 40 million Americans lost their jobs due to the coronavirus outbreak. The impact has been strongest in California, the state with the most applications for unemployment benefits.
–
With no income left, thousands of families stopped paying rent, preferring to spend on food and medicine. The National Multifamily Housing Council (NMHC) reports that in May 93.3% of the tenants in 11.4 million apartments “made a full or partial payment” of the rent. In April 91.7% did.
–
“Many families have lost their income due to covid-19 and our goal is to ensure that they don’t lose their homes, either,” Live In Peace says of the #FirstOfTheMonth campaign. “We are neighbors who understand at times like these, the neighbors have to support the neighbors.”
–
In East Palo Alto, where the average annual income is $ 64,799, which is low compared to the high cost of living in Silicon Valley, the rent payment is about $ 1,684, according to the Census.
–
“Someday we will pay him with something (…) The gesture on his part is appreciated. It is a great help to us. May God give you more, ”said a Hispanic immigrant who received money to pay the rent, in a video broadcast by the organization Live In Peace on his Facebook.
–
<iframe class = "_ 3ndsl" height = "0" srcdoc = "
Sarahí Mendoza, who has lived in California since arriving from Mexico in 1993, says she has been struck by the stories of several people who are suffering financially from covid-19. In particular, he said, he was moved by a family that started selling street food to get ahead.
–
“Despite the fact that so many things are happening, our people do not give up, do not give up and do not cross their arms,” said Mendoza. “They find out how to continue fighting and get their families ahead, because no matter what happens on the first of the month the rent has to be paid,” he concludes.
–
