A new union is fighting for Louisville renters. Here's what you need to know
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A newly formed tenants union that wants to improve rights for Louisville's renters is already catching attention from landlords, residents and elected officials, as rental rates continue to rise citywide.
Here's what to know about the group.
More: How a new Louisville group is helping renters fight for better housing — and win
What is a tenants union?
A tenants union is typically a nonprofit or grassroots group that advocates for renters, seeking to both assist individuals in disputes with their landlords and to change housing policies at all government levels.
Most unions have membership dues, with some operating on a sliding income scale.
All are led by tenants, who help dictate how the unions are organized and run.
Help us report: What's it like to rent in Louisville? Tell us here
Who's involved in the Louisville Tenants Union?
The Louisville Tenants Union consists of about 100 members who live in public and privately owned housing.
It was established in collaboration with several longtime community organizers, including Shemaeka Shaw of Broken Hearted Homes Renters Association, Jasmine Harris of the New Directions Tenants Union, Josh Poe and Jessica Bellamy of Root Cause Research Center, as well as the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
What are the union's goals?
The Louisville Tenants Union meets every other Sunday to discuss individual member issues and group campaigns.
The union believes housing is a human right and landlords, on principle, should not exist. Their long-term goals include working to make those beliefs a part of national policy.
In the short-term, the union has pushed for the Louisville Metro Housing Authority, which runs the city's public housing system, to end its contracts with The CT Group, a private company that manages hundreds of units at Liberty Green and Sheppard Square. Union members say The CT Group ignores maintenance requests and that its regional manager has harassed residents, which the company has denied.
Background: Private company to quit managing Louisville public housing it says needs too much work
The union is also working to propose a Tenants Bill of Rights — a cohesive list of city ordinances that would better protect renters. Potential laws include:
►Rent control that would limit how much a landlord could increase prices annually.
►Right of first refusal, under which tenants would be offered the opportunity to purchase their home, should their landlord choose to sell it.
►Right to organize, which would prevent landlords from retaliating against renters who join or form unions.
►And just-cause evictions, which limit when and how landlords can evict tenants.
Are there other tenant unions in Kentucky?
Yes, at least two tenants unions are working elsewhere in the state.
The Lexington Tenants Union is based in Kentucky's second largest city, while KY Tenants works mostly in Eastern Kentucky, where it organized a campaign last year on behalf of trailer park residents who were forced to move.
The New Directions Tenants Union is also working with tenants in Louisville who live in units managed by the local nonprofit.
How do you contact the unions?
Louisville Tenants Union: Call 502-438-9048 or email loutenantsunion@gmail.com.
New Directions Tenants Union: Email loundtu@protonmail.com.
Lexington Tenants Union: Call 859-568-4042 or email lexingtontenantsunion@gmail.com.
KY Tenants: Email kentuckytenants@gmail.com.
Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4646 or on Twitter @bloosemore. Reach reporter Thomas Birmingham @TBirmingham@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter @cthomasbirm. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: https://www.courier-journal.com/baileyl.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: The Louisville Tenants Union is fighting for renters rights
