December Updates
HavenBrook Tenants Ask for Change!
From the end of September to early October, tenants visited Washington DC to ask leaders in Congress to launch an investigation into HavenBrook Homes. These tenants live in single-family rental homes owned by HavenBrook Homes, a private equity landlord who has harmed Minneapolis families. Tenants met with the teams of Senator Tina Smith, Senator Elizabeth Warren, and Representative Maxine Waters.
The meetings lead to an October 21st hearing before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Sofia Lopez, Deputy Campaign Director of Housing at the Action Center on Race and the Economy, shared the stories of four IX tenant leaders.
Victories for Renters in the Tenant Unions Campaign
Families in the Tenant Unions campaign won several recent victories. After experiencing infestations and large rent increases, tenants living at 3215 21st Avenue South fought for and won monthly meetings with their landlord, major repairs, future renovations, and an agreement not to increase rent until February. At 3500 Columbus Avenue, families sent a letter to their landlord demanding repairs and no rent increases. The landlord responded with a $50 decrease in December’s rent and a promise to make repairs.
Envisioning Future Pathways for the Sky Without Limits Cooperative
Dominic Moulden -- a visionary, lecturer, writer, and Resource Organizer at Organizing Neighborhood Equity (ONE DC) -- spent several days in November visiting IX. Over dinner and many enlightening conversations, Dominic, members, and staff envisioned pathways forward for the Sky Without Limits Cooperative.
You can read more about the Cooperative in a recent article written by IX Co-Director Roberto de la Riva for The Forge: “Tenants took on the biggest landlord in Minneapolis - and won.” In other Cooperative news, and after two different community votes, the Sky Without Limits Cooperative approved its first 8 Board of Directors.
Minneapolis Votes Yes on 3 for Rent Stabilization
On November 2nd, voters passed Question 3, which allows the City of Minneapolis to craft a rent stabilization policy. The Home to Stay MPLS coalition - which includes IX and other Minneapolis faith, labor and community groups - will push the new City Council to pass a strong policy that includes all people and all housing types that will finally begin to address the housing crisis facing thousands of families across Minneapolis. Stay tuned for more to come!
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