Options are available if you’re struggling to make rent or mortgage payments this month

Wednesday is the first of the month and many have hard decisions they will have to make–what bill they are going to pay.

If you can’t make your rent or mortgage payment you do have options.

Hours are cut, businesses are closed and people are trying to work from home— if they can. That’s the situation many in Southwest Florida are facing right now.

A single mom of two teens, who works in the restaurant industry reached out to WINK News about what to do about rent. She was told it was a violation of her lease if she did not pay her rent in full when it was due.

“It’s hard. It is very hard. Not knowing how long this is going to last is probably my biggest fear. Because I don’t know if I am going to keep a roof over my head or food in their mouths,” said Christine Bradford-Bowen.

An attorney told us it is also important to know what type of mortgage your landlord has.

Attorney Carmen Dellutri with Dellutri law group says if it’s a federally backed one like Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac— which is about 60-percent of mortgages— you should be okay.

That’s because the government has issued a moratorium on paying if you can’t make payments.

But if it’s a private loan you have to ask your landlord to extend and get their response in writing.

If they refuse to do that — they can evict you, but here’s what you should know.

“The courts are where evictions are filed. Right now the courts are taking it one day at a time to see whether or not they’re going to go forward with any court proceedings, so I can’t see them pushing just evictions through right now,” said Dellutri.

The renter we talked to said if it came down to it, she has a six-person tent for her family.

The attorney says if you are a homeowner and can’t make your mortgage payment on time, tell your lender. He says the foreclosure process takes about 4-6 months—and you may be able to renegotiate by then.