Speaking of empowering neighborhoods, just a reminder that the
Minneapolis Tenant Summit is tomorrow, Saturday, October 26, 2002, from
noon to 3:00, at the Minneapolis American Indian Center, 1530 E.
Franklin Avenue. More info below. See ya there!
Gregory Luce
Project 504/Minneapolis (North Phillips)
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Faced with a dire shortage of affordable housing, squeezed by huge
application fees and tenant screening practices that are often unfair
and discriminatory, Minneapolis tenants are holding the first ever
Minneapolis Tenant Summit and demanding that the City to take action on
five proposals for change:
* Ban Application Fees. Stop the practice of landlords charging tenants
application fees.
* Prevent Water Shut Offs. Don't shut off a tenant's water because the
landlord has failed to pay the bill.
* Reform NRP. Reform the city's Neighborhood Revitalization Program so
that it includes and helps more tenants and people of color.
* Preserve Subsidized Housing. Take steps to save our subsidized
housing and keep it from going market rate.
* Improve Tenant Screening Criteria. Prevent landlords from using
outdated, irrelevant, or discriminatory information in deciding on
tenant applications. No tenant should be turned down for "no rental
history."
At the Summit, each proposal and its current status will be explained,
and tenants will have a chance to offer comments and testimony. City
Council Members, including Dean Zimmermann, Gary Schiff, and Robert
Lilligren, will speak and have each agreed to take the lead on one of
the proposals.
Five tenant organizations have planned and sponsored the Summit: The
Jobs and Affordable Housing Campaign of Family and Children's Service,
HOME Line, the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, the Minnesota Tenants
Union, and Project 504. Seven other organizations, including the
Minneapolis Urban League, the Legal Rights Center, and the Harriet
Tubman Family Alliance, have recently signed on to the proposals being
presented at the Summit, and additional endorsements are expected.
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