Even with the COVID-19 pandemic still gripping the country in every aspect of life, landlords have started executing orders of evictions as they cave under the pressure of economic uncertainty.
Israel Rodriguez had his own first-hand experience when a Harris County constable in Houston, Texas forced the 24-year-old and his family from their apartment.
The incident was captured in a three-minute video that went viral this week. In the video, Rodriguez is seen loading his belongings into a baby stroller.
The CNN reporter who witnessed the incident interviewed Rodriguez after the eviction. Rodriguez said he was laid off once the pandemic hit and it took him a month to find another job. In the meantime, his rent was piling up.
To make matters worse, an unnamed elderly woman was also in the process of being evicted. The deputy decided to contact social services and give the woman more time to set something up. There’s no word on whether the elderly woman was able to receive help or her current living situation.
The constable’s office said at the time of the evictions that they had court orders to evict people. It wasn’t until the CDC issued a moratorium preventing further evictions did the Harris County constable’s office hold evictions. For those who already received orders to move, they are currently dealing with living in hotels, homeless shelters or the streets.
It’s a seriously dire situation that predicts a very challenging future. Rent will continue to stack on while people are still unemployed. That means that many people will be faced with paying off huge bills by the time temporary holds are removed.
After the CNN report went viral, an influx of compassionate people began donating money to a GoFundMe page for the Rodriguez family.
The heartbreaking news also caught the attention of Houston Texans Quarterback Deshaun Watson, who is no stranger to adversity and needing help. Back in 2006, NFL great Warrick Dunn gifted Deshaun’s family with a home through his foundation. Watson has also been proactive in helping throughout the pandemic.
Just last month, the Texans QB partnered with Reliant Energy to donate $175,000 worth of computers for students attending school remotely due to the pandemic. He followed that with a backpack and school supply giveaway at a Houston’s Pro-Vision Academy. The donation supplied over 500 students with essential supplies to start the new school year.
When he found out about the Rodriguez family, he responded on Twitter saying, “This is crazy. Someone please help me find Israel Rodriguez and the elderly women in this video. Would love to help them get back on their feet.”
So far, no word on whether Watson was able to connect with the Rodriguez family. Rodriguez, who was overwhelmed by the support, made a statement about the experience at a press conference.
“I just wanted to thank everybody that reached out to me, everybody that helped me out from all over the world,” a teary-eyed Rodriguez said. “I didn’t expect all the help that I got, but it helped out so much. It’s unbelievable how people got such a great heart.”
