I want to organize to fight eviction
Join the fight against eviction, displacement, and gentrification:
Detroit Eviction Defense (@DetroitEvictionDefense on Facebook & Instagram, @DetEvictDefense on Twitter)
Meet: Thursdays at 6pm, 2120 Russell St.
Call: (313) 530-0216
detroittenantsassociation@gmail.com
Tenants Association of New Center Plaza (@thesewardsharingtable on Instagram)
Call: (313) 727-9606
Charlevoix Village Association (@charlevoixvillages on Facebook, @cvadetroit on Instagram, @cva_detroit on Twitter)
How to start your own tenants association
Reach out to your neighbors and see if you have common problems in your building.
If so, have a meeting with neighbors to form a Tenants Association. This may take some time; some good ideas are leaving flyers in common areas of the building. If you have to, another good idea is to knock on everyone's door or put flyers on everyone's door.
Once you have formed a Tenants Association, draft a list of all issues within the building to submit to management or the landlord.
Anything you do submit to management or landlord leave space for their signature and request for it to be signed and returned.
Check out and share this resource for organizing tenants (B&W, Color)
More resources on how to join or start a tenants union:
This resource from Michigan Legal Help describes the process for forming a tenant organization in HUD-subsidized multifamily housing.
Organizing a Home Defense
What is a home defense?
In Detroit, "In order for the bailiff to evict, the landlord must have a dumpster delivered to the site for the tenant’s belongings or personal property. Once the dumpster is delivered to the property, the eviction typically occurs shortly thereafter." A home defense is sitting vigil and watching for the dumpster to come. See an example of a home defense in Detroit here.
