UWM Students Struggle to Pay for Basic Necessities During COVID-19 Outbreak

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COVID-19 has been hitting the city of Milwaukee for over a month now closing businesses, canceling events and shutting down universities and schools.

Many students at UWM that work on campus and off campus have been laid off due to the pandemic. And many don’t know how they’re going to be paying their bills without any income.

Chancellor Mark Mone recently sent out an email to students and staff regarding pay for on-campus student workers from the CARE Act. Each worker will get $200 from the $17 million UWM is receiving from the federal stimulus package.

Camille DeWitt is a junior at UWM who works in the Child Care Center which is now shut down during this time.

“Luckily for me my parents didn’t claim me on their taxes, and I’m getting a stimulus check, but it won’t go far,” said DeWitt. “The $200 from UWM doesn’t even cover half of my rent and my parents don’t typically pay for things. It worries me because I might not have money to pay for my utilities since my dad has bills of his own. He just had to spend $500 on a washer because his broke.”

“My parents claimed me, and I pay for everything,” stated Charlie Keller, a UWM student who works on-campus with UWM Athletics and off-campus at the Mecca Sports Bar and Grill. “Unemployment has been such a hassle to deal with since a lot of people are laid off and I applied a month ago and haven’t seen a single cent.”

Other students who don’t have on campus jobs are currently dealing with unemployment and trying to receive an income through them. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate could hit 27 percent during the coronavirus outbreak.

“I never thought at age 21 I would be filing for unemployment,” said Keller. “It’s crazy how everything can be turned around in a matter of weeks and now I don’t know how I’m going to pay my rent next month because I can’t get through to the unemployment office since the phone is always busy.”

Some students are considered essential workers during this time. Many are working in fast food joints and grocery stores.

Mary Cate Artone, also a student at UWM has not been laid off her job but still says she struggles. “I’m lucky enough to be considered an essential worker, but sometimes I feel like I’m out here risking my life since I come in contact with many customers a day.”

UWM has decided to continue the rest of the spring semester online and cancelled the spring commencement ceremony for those who are graduating this May.

Sam Tuttle, a senior at UWM who was planning on graduating in May got laid off his job and his internship. “I’m the first to graduate in my family from college and my family is devastated they won’t be seeing me walk across the stage and get my diploma,” said Tuttle. “It’s even worse I got laid off from my job and my internship let me go because of this, I was hoping on landing a full-time job with them.”

Although some bigger companies in the area are creating relief funds for their employees. The Milwaukee Bucks have created an Emergency Relief Fund for their part time employees. The funds come from money that the Bucks players and owners have donated.

Agu Ibanez-Baldor is a student and a part time employee with the Milwaukee Bucks. “I’m so grateful for the players and the owner’s generosity. Without this, I’m not quite sure how I would’ve gotten some of my bills and basic needs taken care of.”

Milwaukee started shutting down non-essential businesses in mid-March. Businesses that are considered essential are grocery stores, hospitals and doctors’ offices, gas stations and some restaurants (but takeout or drive thru only). Other places that started to close were bars, nail and hair salons, clothing stores and schools and college campuses.

Governor Tony Evers created the “Stay At Home” order in effect until April 23rd, but it is anticipated to go longer.

Many students are still unsure of how they’re going to be paying their bills and other necessities during this time, luckily for some, there are some forms of relief such as landlords and banks extending rent and loan payments.