Noted activist and author Frederick Joseph has raised more than $250,000 through his Coronavirus Rent Relief Fund for people in need of financial help due to the coronavirus crisis.

The GoFundMe campaign began on March 26, and with his powerful social media following, Joseph was quickly able to amass thousands of dollars to help people struggling with their bills since the recent economic downturn began.

"Two weeks before starting the Rent Relief campaign, I decided to raise money for the Food Bank of New York. Ultimately, that effort reached about forty thousand dollars. But I realized as people were commenting on the effort that there was a gap that many non-profits and the government had yet to fill. Which was getting money into people's hands immediately for help with all types of expenses, including rent, during this time," Joseph told Blavity in an email statement.

Over 3,000 people have donated to the #RentRelief campaign, and anyone in need of money just needs to respond under Joseph's designated posts with their story. Joseph will then send $200 through CashApp, Zelle or PayPal accounts.

SHARE or DONATE: We’ve now given $190k to over 950 people via the #RENTRELIEF campaign and are giving another $10k today as we have been.

Add your cashapp, PayPal, or Zelle if you need a few hundred bucks to help with bills during COVID19. #BailOutHumansNow
#BailoutHumans
https://t.co/BKhbTAoloB

— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) April 16, 2020

Joseph started the fundraising drive after hundreds of people contacted him on social media saying they were in need of financial help to cover small bills. Since then, he has received 80,000 requests for help from people struggling to manage since losing their jobs or businesses due to efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

In a statement sent to Blavity, Joseph reiterated that the pandemic is hitting Black communities disproportionately.

"We are in a dire moment where people have been so deeply and quickly impacted that even twenty dollars can help save lives. Especially in the Black community, which is disproportionally feeling the wrath of COVID-19 because of the historic inequities in healthcare, finance, and general resources our community faces in America. We need all the help we can get, and I just wanted to be another partner for people who can use a hand," Joseph said.

The campaign has even attracted high-profile donors like Patricia Arquette, who gave $10,000, as well as journalists Soledad O'Brien and New York Times 1619 project creator Nikole Hannah-Jones, who donated $5,000 and $1,000 respectively.

On the GoFundMe page, Joseph wrote that the crisis "has created one of the most difficult moments in world history, a moment we will surely look back on."

People who have received help from the campaign have already taken to social media to talk about how the funds helped them.

#RentRelief
#FredTJoseph

Your the REAL M.V.P.
PEOPLE DON'T GIVE UP!! pic.twitter.com/EA7Dx1LDut

— Precious Jewelz (@Pjewelz83) April 5, 2020

Since local governments across the country began enforcing shelter-in-place orders, millions of people have lost their jobs and are struggling to make ends meet. According to a Thursday Bloomberg report, more than 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment benefits over the last four weeks.

The unprecedented job losses wiped out nearly all of the jobs created over the last decade since the economic crash in 2008.

You won't see a more terrifying graph…

‘Nowhere to Hide’ as Unemployment Permeates the Economyhttps://t.co/C9LMjJ8h3Y
pic.twitter.com/KJxMAhf6up

— Austin Kocher (@ackocher) April 16, 2020

The government estimates that the unemployment rate has skyrocketed to about 17%, according to Bloomberg. Even as the government began to send out $1,200 stimulus checks to millions of Americans, many people are still struggling to cover light, heat and water bills in addition to rent or mortgage payments.

There were also widespread glitches in the payment system used by the government to get the stimulus money to people, The Washington Post reported. The fiasco caused an eruption of anger on social media.

Next time I owe the IRS, I'm going to send this screenshot#PaymentNotAvailable
#Stimuluscheck
#stimuluspayment
#Fraud
#SCAM
pic.twitter.com/hHWMTo2fvV

— #HTTR (@Boss_Hogg_81) April 15, 2020

Joseph told People that some of the stories he hears from people who contact him are heart-wrenching. People are reaching out to him for payments as small as $10 or $25 just to cover overdue light bills, medication or even just food for the week.

“It’s kind of hell on earth [choosing] because for every one person that you’re giving to, there are a thousand others who aren’t getting,” he told People.

As retail stores, hotels, airlines and restaurants continue to struggle financially, Joseph said it was important that everyone comes together to help each other. The donations are not limited to the United States, he added, and he has sent funds to people living in the Philippines and the United Kingdom.

HBCUs are facing many challenges managing coronavirus responses and need your support. Donate to the UNCF fund today to help students impacted by the pandemic.

frederick joseph

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