Spende geschützt
We are asking for your help by providing emergency financial assistance to a select group of Oregon women business owners in the beauty and hospitality industries, whose livelihoods have been annihilated by the COVID-19 crisis and who have largely been ignored by the agencies and organizations providing emergency funding.
Despite the devastating economic impacts the mandatory business closures have caused, these resilient women are determined to reopen their businesses as soon as the closure order is lifted. To do so, they need our help.
After eight-plus weeks of no income, our intended recipients not only need to cover existing operating costs, they must also have demonstrated compliance with new state-mandated safety standards, which means spending thousands of dollars on personal protection equipment and space modifications.
Despite diligently pursuing every feasible option, our intended recipients were denied virtually all available aid, as highlighted by the following examples.
-Eight weeks ago, Janet, a single, 58-year-old, self-employed aesthetician was forced to close her doors. She has yet to receive an unemployment check and has been denied every available emergency loan and grant. She has even been denied food stamps. To reopen her business, Janet needs funding to purchase the mandated personal protection equipment; She cannot do that without our help.
-In early 2020, Kim fulfilled her lifelong dream and started her own business, only to see it shut down eight weeks later. Her fiancé was laid off three days before the governor’s stay-at-home order and the couple was forced to move in with extended family. They have yet to receive their stimulus checks or unemployment benefits. Despite diligently applying for every available loan, grant and assistance program, Kim has received just $1,000. Prior to permanently closing her business, she used that money to pay her landlord, with the hope that this good will would prevent him from filing formal eviction proceedings. Everything she owns is in storage
-Gloria, a single mom with two young boys, has yet to receive a single unemployment check despite filing each week since being forced to close her salon. Other than a small PPP loan, which likely will not be forgiven because she had no choice but to use it for food and rent, she, too, has been denied every available loan and grant.
-Sharon, a self-employed travel agent who relies on commissions that are paid at the completion of each travel booking, was forced to cancel all existing bookings and, at best, may begin to receive income in October or November assuming travel resumes by July. Despite applying for unemployment benefits seven weeks ago, she’s heard nothing. In March she accepted an hourly retail position that abruptly ended when the business was forced to close its doors. While she did receive her stimulus check, which helped her pay the rent, she, too, has been turned down for every available loan and grant. Sharon has exhausted her savings and, without your support, will have no choice but to permanently close her business—which she has worked so hard to grow—and leave the industry she loves to pursue training in another field.
The women we are helping are not asking for handouts. They are asking for the opportunity to continue succeeding as small business owners who provide services needed by those of us who have fared better in this crisis.
It is only after the government and financial institutions have repeatedly failed them that they are forced to put their pride aside and ask for help.
This is why I am asking you, women like me who have fared far better than others during this crisis, to help these women and their businesses survive and thrive.
Despite the devastating economic impacts the mandatory business closures have caused, these resilient women are determined to reopen their businesses as soon as the closure order is lifted. To do so, they need our help.
After eight-plus weeks of no income, our intended recipients not only need to cover existing operating costs, they must also have demonstrated compliance with new state-mandated safety standards, which means spending thousands of dollars on personal protection equipment and space modifications.
Despite diligently pursuing every feasible option, our intended recipients were denied virtually all available aid, as highlighted by the following examples.
-Eight weeks ago, Janet, a single, 58-year-old, self-employed aesthetician was forced to close her doors. She has yet to receive an unemployment check and has been denied every available emergency loan and grant. She has even been denied food stamps. To reopen her business, Janet needs funding to purchase the mandated personal protection equipment; She cannot do that without our help.
-In early 2020, Kim fulfilled her lifelong dream and started her own business, only to see it shut down eight weeks later. Her fiancé was laid off three days before the governor’s stay-at-home order and the couple was forced to move in with extended family. They have yet to receive their stimulus checks or unemployment benefits. Despite diligently applying for every available loan, grant and assistance program, Kim has received just $1,000. Prior to permanently closing her business, she used that money to pay her landlord, with the hope that this good will would prevent him from filing formal eviction proceedings. Everything she owns is in storage
-Gloria, a single mom with two young boys, has yet to receive a single unemployment check despite filing each week since being forced to close her salon. Other than a small PPP loan, which likely will not be forgiven because she had no choice but to use it for food and rent, she, too, has been denied every available loan and grant.
-Sharon, a self-employed travel agent who relies on commissions that are paid at the completion of each travel booking, was forced to cancel all existing bookings and, at best, may begin to receive income in October or November assuming travel resumes by July. Despite applying for unemployment benefits seven weeks ago, she’s heard nothing. In March she accepted an hourly retail position that abruptly ended when the business was forced to close its doors. While she did receive her stimulus check, which helped her pay the rent, she, too, has been turned down for every available loan and grant. Sharon has exhausted her savings and, without your support, will have no choice but to permanently close her business—which she has worked so hard to grow—and leave the industry she loves to pursue training in another field.
The women we are helping are not asking for handouts. They are asking for the opportunity to continue succeeding as small business owners who provide services needed by those of us who have fared better in this crisis.
It is only after the government and financial institutions have repeatedly failed them that they are forced to put their pride aside and ask for help.
This is why I am asking you, women like me who have fared far better than others during this crisis, to help these women and their businesses survive and thrive.
Organisator
Edie Rogoway
Organisator
Portland, OR