Our Mission

Our Housing Justice campaign is committed to addressing the pervasive housing disparities experienced by marginalized communities, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latinx populations. We aim to promote health, well-being, and upward mobility while confronting the historical and ongoing harms caused by discriminatory practices and racist housing policies. Our mission is to advocate for renters' rights, prevent exploitation, address racial disparities within the housing system, and hold landlords and housing complex owners accountable for the conditions of the homes they provide. Our fight extends to guaranteeing liveable homes that meet safety standards, and we actively oppose retaliation from landlords and housing complex owners. Housing justice, to us, means everyone deserves safe, affordable, and health-promoting housing, irrespective of race, income, gender, ethnicity, ability, and more. Our task force advocates for housing justice through initiatives like rent control, tenant organizing, public housing and fair housing laws, aiming to create a society where housing is a right for all.

Past Accomplishments:

  • We successfully advocated for the passage of the Tenant Safety Act, a critical renters' rights legislation that allows tenants to withhold rent from abusive landlords until repairs are made to their buildings.
  • Our first tenant association, based at the Enclave Apartments in Silver Spring, has been instrumental in engaging legislators and advocating for pro-tenant legislation.
  • We organized impactful press conferences and rallies, bringing together elected officials, community leaders, and tenants to demand immediate action against hazardous living conditions and corporate negligence.

In September 2023, Progressive Maryland formed a tenant association at the Enclave Apartments in Silver Spring, MD.

In October 2023, we held our first press conference with the support of key Montgomery county elected officials, Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich, Montgomery County Council Member Kristin Mink, and State Delegate Lorig Charkoudian. Tenants, residents, and community leaders united to demand immediate action on the living conditions at the apartment complex. 

Image of press conference hosts Enclave Tenant Association,  Progressive Maryland, and Everyday Canvassing with Montgomery County Official guests  in front of the leasing office

Here is the list of tenants' demands that the ETA is still fighting for.

In March 2024, we held a rally at the Enclave Apartments in Silver Spring, where tenants and elected leaders came together to demand justice and accountability in housing conditions. Led by the newly-elected Board of the Enclave Tenant Association, the rally drew attention to the urgent need to address hazardous living conditions and tenant mistreatment.

Current Work:

➥ Continuing the Fight for Good Cause Eviction: While celebrating the passage of the Tenant Safety Act, we remain committed to advocating for "good cause" eviction legislation to prevent landlords from evicting tenants solely for profit.

➥ Addressing Housing Disparities: Our work extends to addressing housing disparities faced by marginalized communities, including advocating for initiatives like rent control, tenant organizing, public housing, and fair housing laws.

 

Get Involved:

Join us in the fight for housing justice! Sign up below to stay updated on our campaigns, events, and ways to get involved in advocating for safe, affordable housing for all.

 

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