Kansas City Tenants Union
The Kansas City Tenants Union, also known as KC Tenants, is a non-profit tenant's union in Kansas City, Missouri. It was founded in 2019 by Tiana Caldwell and Tara Raghuveer. [1][2]
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| Founded | 2019[1] |
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| Headquarters | Kansas City, Missouri |
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Key people | Tiana Caldwell and Tara Raghuveer (co-founders) |
| Website | kctenants |
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History
KC Tenants was founded with an annual budget of $30,000, which has grown to almost $600,000 in June 2023.[1] The union has worked together with Mayor Quinton Lucas on housing policy,[3] notably passing a tenant's bill of rights in 2019 that included banning "discrimination against prospective tenants solely because of a prior arrest, conviction or eviction."[4] KC Tenants has clashed with landlords and the courts over specific eviction cases[5] and the COVID eviction moratorium.[6] The group has a tenants' hotline and an incident report form for renters experiencing housing issues or who have questions about renters' rights.[7] The organization pressured the city into passing a "Right to Counsel" policy, which provides free legal counseling for renters facing eviction filings.[8][9] KC Tenants advocate for a "People's Housing Trust Fund" to build affordable housing, originally to be funded through reducing the Kansas City police department budget.[10]
The Kansas City Homeless Union formed in January 2021 with support from KC Tenants.[11] The two groups have demonstrated together for housing policy reform.[12]
KC Tenants launched its political wing in October 2022 named KC Tenants Power.[13]
KC Tenants Power
In June 2023, candidates endorsed by KC Tenants Power won four out of the thirteen Kansas City city council commissioner seats, losing two races.[14]
References
- Herschander, Sara (2023-06-21). "Foundations buoy a new movement of renters' activism". AP News. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- "About". kctenants.org. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- Dougherty, Conor (2022-10-15). "The Rent Revolution Is Coming". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- Kite, Allison (2019-12-12). "Kansas City Council passes tenant bill of rights with tweaks". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- Lukitsch, Bill (2021-10-12). "KC renters in dispute with landlord after getting notice to vacate". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- Kite, Allison (2021-01-07). "KC Tenants blocks court, vows to keep disrupting evictions". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- "KC Tenants COVID-19 Response". kctenants.org. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- Webster, Betsy (2023-06-21). "KC Tenants leader wins council seat". KCTV. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- "Right to Legal Counsel for Kansas City tenants facing eviction to start June 1". City of Kansas City, MO. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- Morris, Frank (2021-06-28). "KC Tenants Proposes $30 Million Affordable Housing Trust Fund, With Money Diverted From Police Budget". KCUR-FM. Retrieved 2023-07-03.
- "KCHU". kchomelessunion.org. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- Toyoshiba, Jill (2021-07-18). "Homeless union and KC Tenants demonstrate together after city posts notice to vacate | The Kansas City Star". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on 2021-07-18. Retrieved 2023-07-01.
- Mansaray, Mili (2022-10-14). "KC Tenants announces sister organization focused on building political power". The Beacon. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- Webster, Betsy (2023-06-21). "KC Tenants leader wins council seat". KCTV. Retrieved 2023-06-30.