COVID-19 has many of us worrying about our health and economic futures, and for individuals who are unemployed as a result of the crisis, the question of how to pay the rent next month is a pressing concern. Fortunately, there are people in the world like Mario Salerno, a landlord in New York who is lightening the burden for 200 residents by waiving rent for for the month of April.
Salerno owns 80 apartments across Williamsburg and Greenpoint, Brooklyn. He was motivated to take action after many of his tenants expressed concern about their ability to pay rent given high unemployment rates. On March 30, he left notes on the doors of all his tenants informing them that rent was waived for the following month.
Salerno says right now, making sure his residents are healthy is what’s most important. “Don’t worry about paying me, worry about your neighbor and worry about your family,” he said.
