Renter Organizing Action at The Haven of Battle Creek
A St. Paul Chapter Report by John Slade
On March 17, 2022, the St Paul Chapter of MICAH heard a report from members of the East Side Housing Justice group and the Southeast Community Organization tenant organizer about organizing happening at The Haven of Battle Creek, a 215 unit apartment building on the southeast edge of St. Paul.
East Side Housing Justice (ESHJ) is a group formed in meetings at the East Side Freedom Library to work on issues of housing, racism in housing, and to educate the public about these issues. MICAH is a partner in the ESHJ coalition and has co-sponsored many of their educational events. The Southeast Community Organization (SECO) is the official neighborhood group of the southeast corner of the city, and SECO has a Somali tenant organizer, Ubah Shire, also a past Haven resident.
Working together, the Greater East Side district council and organizers from HomeLine built a campaign to highlight and address the issues at that building. It was purchased, after several changes in ownership, by an investment company from New York. The organizing coalition is deeply concerned because these owners appear to be mistreating current tenants - who are largely low income, multiracial, and immigrants with little or no English proficiency.
It appears that the management company are trying to get current tenants to move out so units can be upgraded, and rents raised.
Among the tenant mistreatment concerns that they reported at our meeting:
untreated infestations of cockroaches and mice
“leases” that are oral not written, and being orally non-renewed (and sometimes the management refuses to provide a written lease when requested)
inconsistent rent increases across tenants
increases in utility bills and/or “fees” for some tenants and not others
For example, at present, comparable 1 BR units at The Haven can cost anything from $1100 to $2000 a month. In addition, new tenants are charged with move-in fees ranging from $199 to $499, with tenants with lower credit scores being charged the higher move-in fees.
Kara Lallman, a seasoned organizer from HomeLine, and Ubah Shire, both reported that tenants were very fearful, did not appear to know their rights, and needed language and culture skills to better advocate for themselves.
The St. Paul Chapter of MICAH agreed to support the work of East Side Housing Justice at The Haven by attending its first organizing meeting for tenants, held on March 21st. At that meeting, 20 tenants got to know each other better and shared information with one another about problems they were having at The Haven. Below are some reflections from MICAH St. Paul Chapter members who attended at that meeting.
“Having [worked to help implement] the rent stabilization ordinance, it was very much an excellent reminder that there are truly POS corporations doing evil things to real people in real time. With real intent. With real tactics. With real relentlessness.”
“My takeaways from the residents [included] … the incredible rent increases, health and safety issues: security cameras that don’t work, … cars are being vandalized, mice infestation, … unexpected fees that seem to be added haphazardly… People are stuck … they can’t afford to move out, and they can’t afford to stay.”
“…[Tenants] must pay rent through a portal, but you pay 3% of your rent fee when you use the portal. … People are told, ‘if you don’t like it, move!’ [but] landlords make money these days with quick turnover.”
“It was very hard to hear some of the things that the residents are having to deal with on a daily basis at Haven. I’m amazed that the owner/s are able to get away with the illegal things they are doing to the residents. It makes me sick.”
We hear that this first tenant organizing meeting appears to have already had one positive effect: the owners are having trouble attracting new tenants, and appear to have lowered some rents as a result. A second tenant organizing meeting happened in early May, and a third on May 21st.