Resources for Renters
Links provided below are to help tenants understand and fight for their housing rights. Solidarity.
"The idea of talking to your landlord by yourself might be scary. Maybe it would be easier to do with your neighbors. Your neighbors might be having the same problems you are having with your landlord, the condition of your home, or the condition of common areas. You may want to organize to discuss these problems. If you live in multifamily subsidized housing, you have the right to organize with other tenants. Multifamily subsidized housing includes public housing and privately owned multifamily housing. In public housing, tenant organizations are called resident councils."
"This report serves as a guide for renters and tenants in navigating their rights when renting a home or unit. It includes information about rental leases and policies, eviction rules and complaints, landlord responsibilities and expectations, tenant responsibilities, and financial and legal assistance in Michigan."
We regularly offer industry-relevant training programs and workshops. Our certified instructors have many years of experience in their specialist area and enjoy sharing their expert knowledge with their students.
The Future of Housing Organizing: Tenant Unions
The only answer to our housing crises is collective action. A growing movement of tenant unions promises a new front in the struggle for our homes.
ROSE LENEHAN AND TARA RAGHUVEER JULY 23, 2024
More Resources...
Discover more about the fight for Renters Rights. We constantly update this page, please check back regularly and feel free to get in touch with us with any others you think are applicable and we should share.
By James Saucedo, Housing Advocacy Organizer
"Why organize? Organizing rebalances power. When ordinary people come together to take collective action on their own behalf, they have a greater ability to influence people in decision-making positions. This undermines existing social structures and creates a more just distribution of power."
"Are you feeling discouraged, angered, or fearful about your housing situation? You are not alone. There are likely many tenants around you struggling, even if your landlord makes it seem like you are the only one. Don't let fear win you over. Join with other tenants because together, we are stronger."
The Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy (GRIID) was formed in 1998 in response the growing influence of the corporate media. GRIID teaches media literacy, critical thinking skills about how media functions and how it can misinform the public on critical issues like war, race, gender, health, the environment, consumerism and elections. We also act as a media watchdog of the news in West Michigan and have published numerous reports that demonstrate that the corporate media fails the public miserably on critical issues.
"The National Low Income Housing Coalition is dedicated to achieving racially and socially equitable public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have quality homes that are accessible and affordable in communities of their choice."
Photographs by Jamie Kelter Davis
Conor Dougherty has been covering housing for two decades. He spent a week in Kalamazoo County reporting this article.
Aug. 22, 2024
Videos of Renters Struggling & Fighting Back
PTU will do it's best to keep us all informed of the housing struggles in our community, city, state and around the country, We will continue to share videos about the housing crisis we are facing, so be sure to check back regularly. Being informed and united are our greatest weapons. Renters are the many. Landlords are the few. We must continue to work together and build our union.
ACROSS THE U.S.--"Oct 15, 2024
Giant institutional investors are gobbling up thousands of homes in Atlanta, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and so many other communities around the country — making housing both more unaffordable and lower quality. And one of the biggest culprits is a publicly traded company called Invitation Homes, which owns - believe it or not - 80,000 properties across the country. Invitation Homes allegedly skimmed off security deposits, failed to maintain their properties, and even lied about the cost of rent. Now, thanks to the Federal Trade Commission, they have to refund $48 million to renters they ripped off."
Video from the Rent Is Too Damn High demonstration in Lansing last May. PTU was there with We The People.
"Jun 6, 2024
The Rent Is Too Damn High coalition picketed the leading housing industry conference of the year in Michigan. Renters from Detroit, Lansing, Washtenaw County, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and Traverse City came out to send a message to decision makers: the rent is too damn high and we demand change! Video by Craig Jones www.mirentistoodamnhigh.com"
MICHIGAN--"Sep 18, 2024
Mobile homes are one of the last remaining affordable housing options in America. Now they’ve become private equity’s latest target. Private equity firms now own at least 1200 parks nationwide. And residents have seen their rents spike by as much as 100% in the last 6 years."
The Housing Crisis
From RealPage setting astronomically high rents, to crooked management companies pocketing thousands in schemes and scams; these videos explore how renters are swindled and squeezed around the country. They should help make it abundantly clear that landlords and management companies are not our friends.
We must organize to protect ourselves. Handfuls of residents in our community have complained about being hit with sudden fees and outstanding balances. Some they make excuses for, others they just say you owe so... send a check. They even haggled with one tenant over a supposed amount they owed, couldn't prove and when the resident questioned it they offered to lower the amount they were asking for--this is a shake down. More residents step forward and join our efforts every month. We can make a difference, if we band together as a Union. Sign your Union Card today!
"Jun 6, 2024 ...everyone deserves safe housing."
"Apr 23, 2024
Housing is an investment. And investment prices must go up. Housing is shelter. When the price of shelter goes up, people experience distress. Housing can’t be both a good investment and broadly affordable—yet we insist on both. This is the housing trap."
"Aug 27, 2024 Latest Shows As sky-high rents and a housing shortage become major issues in the 2024 presidential election, the U.S. Justice Department has sued software company RealPage, alleging its algorithm enabled landlords nationwide to collude in raising rents on tenants. The DOJ says the price-fixing scheme has impacted millions of renters across the United States. "
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