如果你付不起房租怎么办

如果你付不起房租怎么办

And with millions of Americans out of a job and struggling to pay rent, the risk of widespread homelessness is very real.

随着数以百万计的美国人失去工作，为支付房租而苦苦挣扎，普遍无家可归的风险是非常现实的。

If you're behind on your rent or don't think you'll make it this month, here's what you need to do.

如果你拖欠了房租，或者这个月你觉得自己撑不下去了，下面是你需要做的。

Identify emergency funds that can help you pay

确定可以帮助你支付的应急基金

Cities, counties and states have various funds specifically set aside for emergency rental assistance during the coronavirus pandemic.

市、县和州专门为冠状病毒流行病期间的紧急租赁援助设立了各种基金。

"Identify the programs that you might qualify for and apply for them," says Maxwell.

马克斯韦尔说:“确定你有资格申请的项目，然后申请。”

The National Low Income Housing Coalition maintains a database of COVID-19 emergency assistance programs in states and localities.

全国低收入住房联盟在各州和地方建立了COVID-19紧急援助项目数据库。

Communicate with your landlord

与你的房东沟通

If you know you'll have trouble paying rent, housing advocates recommend approaching your landlord to let the landlord know you're struggling, so you can settle on an arrangement that works for both of you.

如果你知道自己付房租有困难，房屋维权人士建议你去找你的房东，让他知道你在苦苦挣扎，这样你们就可以达成一个对双方都有效的安排。

Make sure any agreement you make is in writing, and keep a log of the payments you make, including the dates and the amount paid.

确保你达成的任何协议都是书面的，并记录你的付款，包括日期和支付的金额。

Stick to the agreement if at all possible.

如果可能的话，一定要遵守协议。

Seek legal help

寻求法律帮助

If your conversations go south — it's time to get some help.

如果你们的谈话不顺利——是时候寻求帮助了。

Know your rights

知道你的权利

Eviction rules differ across states and jurisdictions. The rules in your county might differ from the rules in the county next door.

各州和司法管辖区的驱逐规定各不相同。你所在县的规定可能与隔壁县的规定不同。

Attorneys can help you understand your rights or whether an existing state or local moratorium is already more protective than the CDC moratorium, Simmons says.

西蒙斯说，律师可以帮助你了解你的权利，或者现有的州或地方禁令是否已经比疾控中心的禁令更具保护性。

Even if you are protected, property owners may force you out with other tactics. Sometimes landlords turn off utilities, change locks or harass tenants.

即使你受到了保护，业主也可能会用其他手段强迫你离开。有时房东会关掉公用设施、换锁或骚扰房客。

An attorney can help you understand how to respond.

律师可以帮助你了解如何应对。