From bartering to begging for relief, struggling Americans confront April rent

Christina Morales, a line cook of two years at Farley's East cafe that closed due to the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), cleans with her son Pablo, 2, at the cafe in Oakland, California, U.S. March 18, 2020. Picture taken March 18, 2020. (Reuters)

New York hair stylist Vanessa Karim has not worked since March 21, when the state closed all salons to slow the spread of the coronavirus. She only has enough cash on hand to cover half of her $1,400 April rent.

“It all feels like a bad dream,” said Karim, 36, who planned to ask her landlord if he would be willing to accept a partial payment. “Every day I’m like, ‘Is this really happening?’ I’m trying not to stress out.”