As the COVID-19 crisis disrupts our daily lives, including our ability to work, pay rent and send our kids to school, we need to ensure working families can make ends meet. The Emergency Action Plan is a first step toward protecting all of us in the midst of our shared vulnerability - starting with the most vulnerable among us. 

 

No matter what you look like, where you live, or how much money you have, getting health care when you're sick shouldn't mean going bankrupt. But for too long, we've let a powerful few divide us to pad their profits. We must rewrite the rules to ensure everyone can access the care that we need.

The choices our government makes now to help us weather the outbreak of this virus can also set a better course for the future of our communities. Now is the time for us to unite across our differences and make policy choices that help every-day people in pursuit of a safe and thriving nation. This is our moment as a country to move past the politics of blame and division, and to replace it with a plan that centers on dignity and care for all. This can happen when we:

 

Build A Care Economy

 

The economic collapse triggered by COVID-19, including high unemployment, has made it impossible for millions of people to survive-to eat, to pay bills, and to provide for their families. Like many illnesses, the spread and impact of this virus are dependent upon social interaction. That means it is critical that people who are sick stay home. But, people cannot just "stay home" if doing so means they will no longer have money for food or rent. The lack of paid leave in this country forces people to choose between their health and necessities. The lack of paid leave harms individuals and public health as a whole. We must provide paid sick and family leave, universal comprehensive health care, universal basic income, enhance unemployment insurance, and access to the food that people need to survive. 

 

 

Guarantee Housing for All

 

Safe housing is a right, and it is imperative during this pandemic that everyone, including the unhoused population, have shelter in order to social distance and effectively stop the spread of COVID-19. As an unprecedented number of people have lost their job due to this crisis, no one should fear losing the roof over their head because they are struggling to pay their rent, mortgage, or utility bills. We must expand resources for the unhoused and halt evictions, foreclosures and utility shut offs. Also, we must freeze and forgive rent and mortgage payments to ensure that everyone is able to weather this crisis with a safe place to live - and without incurring debilitating debt.

 

 

 

Keep Our Communities Safe
The vast majority of Americans believe that many of our responses to this crisis have been woefully inadequate and left too many people behind. Indeed, while the virus poses a threat to us all, we have seen how our fractured society has left some more exposed than others, with people of color, and especially Black Americans, disproportionately afflicted. To keep our communities truly safe during this global pandemic, we must start by protecting the most vulnerable among us. We must dramatically reduce the number of people that are incarcerated; develop strategies to respond to public health issues that actually help those in crisis; and ensure that we don't perpetuate the cycles of poverty, behavioral health issues, and homelessness that affect so many and for whom COVID-19 will be the most deadly.

 

 

Make Every Vote Matter

During a public health emergency like the spread of COVID-19, decreasing the amount of in-person contact is essential to combat the crisis. This creates a significant challenge for election officials. To ensure that this year's election and all future elections are fair, safe, accessible, and secure, we must embrace a comprehensive, proactive plan to protect voting rights. When elections occur, every vote should count and every voice should be heard.

 

As individuals, we can wash our hands, avoid unnecessary travel and check in on our friends and neighbors. As a united force, we can demand our local, state and national governments do everything possible to protect everyone's housing and their access to food and economic opportunity. Learn more about our plan to make this happen:   http://www.hcp1.net/News/emergency-action-plan  

 

 

Our Precinct One team has prepared a COVID-19 Resource Guide that has a lot of good information and trusted sources to help you and your family stay up to date, safe and healthy during this pandemic.

Please see what resources are available for you.

• English version or
  by visiting this link:
  http://bit.ly/COVIDResourceGuide 

• Spanish version or
  by visiting this link:
  http://bit.ly/COVIDResourceGuide_ESP 

Please continue to stay safe and keep your family safe by following social distancing recommendations and wearing your face coverings in public. Let's look to our public health professionals to provide the best guidance as we move to the next stage of this crisis.

Together we will get through this.