Throughout the pandemic, COVID-19 has shone a light onto widespread inequities in almost every aspect of our communities — seeping all the way into our homes and neighborhoods. The pandemic has reaffirmed that housing is a human right especially in the most unprecedented circumstances. Eviction moratoriums, local and federal, came and went and served as safety nets for vulnerable communities. But leaders in our communities are saying there’s more to be done.

To Cancel Rent is a program spearheaded by leaders across Washington, D.C. At its core, it’s an initiative that strives to shift the responsibility of applying for rental assistance from tenants to landlords. This way, it alleviates stress from already vulnerable families and individuals and streamlines the process for applying for rental assistance. As organizer Grace Guber says, Cancel Rent is just one step closer to community control of land.

In a country that feels more divisive than united, one thing that we can all agree on is that housing is a human right. In the face of a pandemic, all families should have a safe, sustainable place to call home.

Video by Communications Fellow Maris Medina