CONCORD, N.H.—This GivingTuesday, ROC USA will inspire generosity by continuing an ongoing goal of providing site fee (lot “rent”) grants to Members of resident-owned communities who face hardships due to a COVID-19 diagnosis.
GivingTuesday was launched in 2012 as a simple idea: to create a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. GivingTuesday will kick off the generosity season this year by inspiring people to give back on Dec. 1.
In the early days of the pandemic in March, ROC USA President Paul Bradley announced the #BetterTogether Fund to provide aid directly to households in resident-owned communities who received positive COVID-19 diagnoses. Since the launch of the campaign, ROC USA has issued more than 20 grants and over $17,000 in aid to Member-owners in 10 states.
As COVID-19 cases rise nationwide, so does demand for grant assistance.
“Our hope is to use the spirit of GivingTuesday to raise enough funds to provide assistance to Members of resident owned communities throughout the winter,” Bradley said.
A recent report by Urban Institute highlighted that 35 percent of owners of manufactured homes work in the five industries that have seen the most job loss during the crisis: food and entertainment, retail, construction, and other services. Coupled with fear of job loss, these industries often don’t pay sick time, making a positive test and a quarantine period financially unbearable for many households. Moreover, most owners of manufactured homes do not qualify for loan protections under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
“The early evidence shows ROCs are proving resilient through another deep recession and pandemic. I am so impressed with how well co-op leaders are providing critical leadership through a national crisis,” said Bradley, who added that many of the people we’ve issued grants to have reported they are on the mend and were very appreciative of the assistance.
In Minnesota, a community has been hit particularly hard with positive cases and loss of work hours. One household in this community is moving forward after the passing of their grandmother, while other families were forced to stay home from their hourly jobs during the infection period. In Washington, one family battled COVID-19 and a hospitalization during the birth of their child. The entire family is now on the mend. And in a resident-owned community in Texas, the community battled through a stretch of hospitalizations and cases that affected several households. Latinx Member households are being hit hardest, accounting for more than half of the cases in resident-owned communities.
Members of resident owned communities are encouraged to apply for a site fee assistance grant if they meet the criteria.
ROC USA and the ROC Association are continuing to match all donations up to $10,000. Consider making a gift today.
Additionally, proceeds from Amazon Smile will also go directly towards the #BetterTogether Fund this holiday season – simply head to smile.amazon.com and sign in with your regular Amazon account to give back while shopping.
