Building Tenant Power South of I-20

American Friends Service Committee is excited to be working alongside long term residents in Peoplestown, Mechanicsville, Summerhill and beyond in an effort to build and strengthen tenant associations in low income apartment complexes. Atlanta is many decades behind other cities it's size when it comes to a culture of tenant associations and tenant rights.

For over a year we have partnered with Peoplestown Revitalization Corporation, Occupy Our Homes Atlanta, and a number of other community groups to build the SMP(Stands for Summerhill, Mechanicsville, and Peoplestown) Housing Justice Movement.

Last month with the help of Right to the City Alliance we launch a monthly training curriculum specifically for tenant leaders designed to help them build and strengthen tenant associations in the area. Mass displacement is a dynamic problem that happens when communities are developed too fast. It's not a simple problem, and there's not one way to combat the issue. One way mass displacement happens is the destruction of low in complexes, but with strong tenant associations residents can fight back and in some cases force owners to sell the property to tenants at a fair current market price. We've already had some success and we're really excited to be working with a new group of strong emerging tenant leaders in the area!

Right now the project could use support. One way you can support this important work is by making a contribution of any size to our fundraising drive by clicking here!