Selena Martinez sits in her cramped bedroom in south-east Washington, DC. The small room where she and her children sleep at night has been transformed into a classroom during the day, with peeling posters on the walls showing numbers and the alphabet.
In one hand, Ms Martinez wrestles with a tablet. With the other, she tries to herd her two young children, Natalie, 4, and Mateo, 3, back to online school.
In the other room, her mother watches television as she waits for her work shift to start.
This is how they spend their days, for now, but Ms Martinez is not sure how much longer she can keep this up.
Ms Martinez, 25, is one of millions of Americans struggling financially and emotionally during the pandemic. “My kids aren’t learning. I’m not a teacher, I don’t have a diploma or anything,” she said. “It’s just me. My mom doesn’t know how to work the tablets at all. And I’ve been having issues with the school because they’ve missed some classes and I’ve had doctor's appointments.”
Ms Martinez, a single mother, lives with Natalie, Mateo, her mother and her sister in a three-bedroom apartment.
They live in America’s capital, a few minutes away from glistening government buildings. But they may as well live in a different country.
The well-paved roads that lead to the US Capitol building and the National Mall start to decay somewhere over the Anacostia River. By the time they reach Ward 8, where the Martinez family lives, they are pothole ridden and in desperate need of repair.
Ward 8 covers a historic stretch of the capital. It was once home to Frederick Douglass, the escaped slave who became one of the nation’s great heroes. Today, the neighbourhood is impoverished and struggling.
The median household income for Ward 8 is $36,697, which is a little more than a third of the city’s average household income of $90,695. And it is still significantly more than the Martinez family has been able to bring in since the pandemic started in January 2020.
The family has lived in the same apartment complex since 2009, but they are worried they may soon be evicted. “Right now, we’re short and wondering how we’re going to pay rent.”
Ms Martinez's mother Maria, 59, is the sole provider for the family. She has a warm smile and a cheerful laugh that masks the deep anxiety she feels. Maria works part time cleaning an office building in Silver Spring, Maryland. She makes $15.80 an hour and works three hours a day, five days a week. A month of work earns her less than $1,000, more than $400 short of the rent they pay on their apartment.
She tries to pick up other cleaning shifts when she can, but most of her side work has all but dried up in the pandemic.
With her hands full taking care of her children and their home, Ms Martinez is unable to work herself. Each month is a nail-biter. “We’re not sure for next month at all, to be honest,” she said.
The Martinez family is part of a growing number of Americans who can no longer afford their rent. One in five renters in the US are not up to date on their rent, according to the Census Bureau Household Survey from December. Renters of colour are even more likely to be behind on rent, with about one in four Latinos not able to make rental payments.
The likelihood of someone being behind on rent during the pandemic increases for those with children in the house.
Last week, in one of his first acts as president, Joe Biden signed an executive order extending a federal moratorium on evictions, which was meant to end at the end of this month, until the end of March. That means landlords can not kick out tenants even if they are behind on rent.
Many states and cities have their own eviction bans as well, but that has not stopped many landlords from exploiting loopholes to evict thousands of Americans from their homes, contributing to a rise in homelessness in many places across the United States.
According to a new study from The Economic Roundtable, a Los Angeles research organisation, the recession caused by the pandemic will lead to twice as much homelessness over the next four years in the US as did the 2008 recession. Without government intervention, the group said chronic homelessness could increase 49 per cent.
“I’m anticipating we go from eviction moratoriums ending to this very bumpy period where a lot of people are in desperate situations, and then there comes some sort of solution but it will be a little too late,” said Brianna Weck of Her Resiliency Centre, which helps women in need in Washington and Baltimore.
While the group is not necessarily seeing an increase of women in need, the women coming to them for help are in much more desperate situations since the pandemic began, Ms Weck said.
Waiting for relief
As part of his $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan, President Biden proposed $30 billion to help renters and small landlords. He also called for the eviction ban to be extended until September 2021.
As Congress debates the plan, thousands of Americans like Ms Martinez are desperately waiting for any assistance that may trickle down to them.
On a cold Wednesday morning, Teddy McNair, 43, lined up outside Bread for the City, a Washington food bank, looking for help to feed his family.
He was laid off from his job because of the pandemic.
“It’s been a rough year, but I think I see signs of hope that we can rebound from this, it might take a minute, it’s a lot of chaos,” Mr McNair said of his living situation.
According to the Census Bureau survey, about one in three children living in rented housing experience food shortages. That is something the Martinez family has been dealing with as well. “Right now, we’re struggling with food,” Ms Martinez said.
Like Mr McNair, the Martinez family relies on food bags from Bread for the City. The organisation has two locations in the city. One in Anacostia near the Martinez family and another in the Shaw neighbourhood.
They prepare 400 to 600 bags of food every day for community members in need. “When you think about certain areas in the city like Wards 8 and 7 where there’re food deserts, a lot of community members don't have access to quality food, so they rely on us to be able to give them that quality food,” said Kenrick Thomas, a communications and events manager at Bread for the City.
The organisation has noticed a significant increase in new community members requiring their services, with demand for food up three to four times what it was before the pandemic, Mr Thomas said. "There are families who have never had to use Bread for the City who are now using us consistently. We have a lot of community members now who were employed and now they are underemployed and they are not getting paid a consistent income."
Mr Thomas said that on top of the financial toll, the community his organisation serves is being disproportionately affected by the Covid-19 disease itself. “We also have a lot of community members who are dealing with stress now because of the possibility of being exposed to Covid-19,” he said.
For Ms Martinez's mother Maria, who speaks only Spanish, that fear of getting sick is compounded by the fear of not being able to provide for her family. She pointed to her legs, which were covered in red dots. "She just got overwhelmed with everything going on," her daughter said in explanation of the rash.
Both mother and daughter have suffered from anxiety and panic attacks as they tried to navigate the pandemic. Their one constant is each other, and together they are determined to get through the challenging times.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
EPL's youngest
- Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
15 years, 181 days old
- Max Dowman (Arsenal)
15 years, 235 days old
- Jeremy Monga (Leicester)
15 years, 271 days old
- Harvey Elliott (Fulham)
16 years, 30 days old
- Matthew Briggs (Fulham)
16 years, 68 days old
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
MATCH INFO
English Premiership semi-finals
Saracens 57
Wasps 33
Exeter Chiefs 36
Newcastle Falcons 5
Company profile
Date started: January, 2014
Founders: Mike Dawson, Varuna Singh, and Benita Rowe
Based: Dubai
Sector: Education technology
Size: Five employees
Investment: $100,000 from the ExpoLive Innovation Grant programme in 2018 and an initial $30,000 pre-seed investment from the Turn8 Accelerator in 2014. Most of the projects are government funded.
Partners/incubators: Turn8 Accelerator; In5 Innovation Centre; Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme; Dubai Future Accelerators; FHI 360; VSO and Consult and Coach for a Cause (C3)
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
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Result
Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2
Man City: Jesus (39), David Silva (41)
8 UAE companies helping families reduce their carbon footprint
Greenheart Organic Farms
This Dubai company was one of the country’s first organic farms, set up in 2012, and it now delivers a wide array of fruits and vegetables grown regionally or in the UAE, as well as other grocery items, to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi doorsteps.
www.greenheartuae.com
Modibodi
Founded in Australia, Modibodi is now in the UAE with waste-free, reusable underwear that eliminates the litter created by a woman’s monthly cycle, which adds up to approximately 136kgs of sanitary waste over a lifetime.
www.modibodi.ae
The Good Karma Co
From brushes made of plant fibres to eco-friendly storage solutions, this company has planet-friendly alternatives to almost everything we need, including tin foil and toothbrushes.
www.instagram.com/thegoodkarmaco
Re:told
One Dubai boutique, Re:told, is taking second-hand garments and selling them on at a fraction of the price, helping to cut back on the hundreds of thousands of tonnes of clothes thrown into landfills each year.
www.shopretold.com
Lush
Lush provides products such as shampoo and conditioner as package-free bars with reusable tins to store.
www.mena.lush.com
Bubble Bro
Offering filtered, still and sparkling water on tap, Bubble Bro is attempting to ensure we don’t produce plastic or glass waste. Founded in 2017 by Adel Abu-Aysha, the company is on track to exceeding its target of saving one million bottles by the end of the year.
www.bubble-bro.com
Coethical
This company offers refillable, eco-friendly home cleaning and hygiene products that are all biodegradable, free of chemicals and certifiably not tested on animals.
www.instagram.com/coethical
Eggs & Soldiers
This bricks-and-mortar shop and e-store, founded by a Dubai mum-of-four, is the place to go for all manner of family products – from reusable cloth diapers to organic skincare and sustainable toys.
www.eggsnsoldiers.com
Director: Romany Saad
Starring: Mirfat Amin, Boumi Fouad and Tariq Al Ibyari
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
Available: Now
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The%20specs
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RedCrow Intelligence Company Profile
Started: 2016
Founders: Hussein Nasser Eddin, Laila Akel, Tayeb Akel
Based: Ramallah, Palestine
Sector: Technology, Security
# of staff: 13
Investment: $745,000
Investors: Palestine’s Ibtikar Fund, Abu Dhabi’s Gothams and angel investors
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH SCHEDULE
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Tuesday, April 24 (10.45pm)
Liverpool v Roma
Wednesday, April 25
Bayern Munich v Real Madrid (10.45pm)
Europa League semi-final, first leg
Thursday, April 26
Arsenal v Atletico Madrid (11.05pm)
Marseille v Salzburg (11.05pm)
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
RESULTS - ELITE MEN
1. Henri Schoeman (RSA) 57:03
2. Mario Mola (ESP) 57:09
3. Vincent Luis (FRA) 57:25
4. Leo Bergere (FRA)57:34
5. Jacob Birtwhistle (AUS) 57:40
6. Joao Silva (POR) 57:45
7. Jonathan Brownlee (GBR) 57:56
8. Adrien Briffod (SUI) 57:57
9. Gustav Iden (NOR) 57:58
10. Richard Murray (RSA) 57:59
EXPATS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Lulu%20Wang%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nicole%20Kidman%2C%20Sarayu%20Blue%2C%20Ji-young%20Yoo%2C%20Brian%20Tee%2C%20Jack%20Huston%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%204%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.4-litre V8
Transmission: Automatic
Power: 530bhp
Torque: 750Nm
Price: Dh535,000
On sale: Now
Company%20profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Fasset%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2019%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Mohammad%20Raafi%20Hossain%2C%20Daniel%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%242.45%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2086%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Pre-series%20B%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Investcorp%2C%20Liberty%20City%20Ventures%2C%20Fatima%20Gobi%20Ventures%2C%20Primal%20Capital%2C%20Wealthwell%20Ventures%2C%20FHS%20Capital%2C%20VN2%20Capital%2C%20local%20family%20offices%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
Volvo ES90 Specs
Engine: Electric single motor (96kW), twin motor (106kW) and twin motor performance (106kW)
Power: 333hp, 449hp, 680hp
Torque: 480Nm, 670Nm, 870Nm
On sale: Later in 2025 or early 2026, depending on region
Price: Exact regional pricing TBA
UAE v Ireland
1st ODI, UAE win by 6 wickets
2nd ODI, January 12
3rd ODI, January 14
4th ODI, January 16
RACE CARD
6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
7.05pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (D) 1,900m
7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
9.25pm: Handicap (TB) Dh87,500 (D) 1,400m
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESmartCrowd%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2018%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESiddiq%20Farid%20and%20Musfique%20Ahmed%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFinTech%20%2F%20PropTech%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInitial%20investment%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%24650%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%2035%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EVarious%20institutional%20investors%20and%20notable%20angel%20investors%20(500%20MENA%2C%20Shurooq%2C%20Mada%2C%20Seedstar%2C%20Tricap)%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ABU DHABI ORDER OF PLAY
Starting at 10am:
Daria Kasatkina v Qiang Wang
Veronika Kudermetova v Annet Kontaveit (10)
Maria Sakkari (9) v Anastasia Potapova
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Ons Jabeur (15)
Donna Vekic (16) v Bernarda Pera
Ekaterina Alexandrova v Zarina Diyas
J%20Street%20Polling%20Results
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
