Why rent help from Congress has been so damn slow getting to people who need it
Akira Johnson lives in Columbia, S.C., with her three kids. She tries to make the place joyful for them with flowers and pillows that say things like "happy" and "sunshine."
She has decorated one wall with the logo of her small business: an eye with amazing eyelashes.
"I'm a licensed cosmetologist," Johnson says. "I specialize in eyelash extensions. It takes about two hours."
Johnson says that she used to make about $60,000 a year with her eyelash business. But when the coronavirus pandemic hit, she was forced to shut down her salon. She did everything she could to keep paying rent. She downsized to a cheaper apartment, applied for unemployment benefits and emptied her savings. But eventually, she fell behind.
Johnson applied for rental assistance money. But she has been waiting for months. She's not alone.
Nationally, a race
