“Just as labor unions help workers stand together for fair treatment, the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act will empower renters to come together and make positive changes in their homes and neighborhoods.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) introduced the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, a crucial bill to empower tenants to organize, participate in, and operate tenant organizations without fear of retaliation or interference. This bill amends the United States Housing Act of 1937 to the formation of tenant organizations and provide additional funding to ensure they have a stronger voice in addressing their living conditions and advocating for their rights.
Currently, only some tenants living in federally supported housing have a legally recognized right to organize without fear of retaliation. This unfair distinction leaves Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) recipients and residents of federally-assisted units in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties without the ability to self-organize and address housing concerns. Empowering the millions of HCV and LIHTC tenants in rent-restricted units with the ability to organize promotes stronger, more robust communities and can help improve housing outcomes and reduce eviction filings.
The House companion to this legislation was introduced by Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL-3). This bill is co-sponsored by Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA).
“Every American, regardless of their financial situation, should have the right to advocate for better conditions in their home and community,” said Senator Fetterman. “No parent wants to see their child living in an unsafe or unhealthy home. This bill is about giving low-income Section 8 and LIHTC renters the tools they need to speak up and demand better living conditions. Just as labor unions help workers stand together for fair treatment, the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act will empower renters to come together and make positive changes in their homes and neighborhoods. I’m proud to introduce it.”
“With the introduction of the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act in the Senate, we are building powerful momentum for tenants’ rights across the country,” said Congresswoman Delia C. Ramirez, the lead sponsor of the legislation in the House of Representatives. “From major cities like Chicago to smaller communities, tenants are realizing the power they have when they come together to fight unfair housing practices, unjust evictions, housing discrimination, and skyrocketing rents. Tenant organizing is not only winning these battles but also reshaping public policy to ensure safe, stable housing for thousands of families. As our housing affordability and access crisis worsens, it is more urgent than ever to guarantee that all tenants have the right to organize. I look forward to working with my colleagues to build tenant power and transform housing for all.”
“People shouldn’t be punished just for speaking up when they are living in unsanitary conditions or struggling to afford their rent and make ends meet,” said Senator Wyden. “Tenants asking for fair treatment in their own homes should have the right to advocate together, just as workers do. This bill will give tenants the protections to stand up for themselves as our country faces a housing crisis.”
“My parents never made much money,” said Senator Sanders. “But we kept a roof over our heads because we lived in a rent-controlled apartment. As we confront this terrible housing crisis, let me be very clear: In the richest country in the history of the world, every American must have a safe, decent, accessible, and affordable home as a fundamental right. As part of that effort, we must guarantee renters have the right to form tenant unions free from retaliation by landlords or managing agents. This legislation is an important step in the right direction.”
“Tenants need the tools in this measure to protect themselves against predatory landlords. Organizing together to combat exploitative practices gives them leverage and strength. They can hold landlords accountable and demand safe, affordable, secure housing— which should be the legal right of every renter. Rising rents and abusive evictions are enabled by housing shortages that need to be addressed as well,” said Senator Blumenthal.
“Everyone deserves a safe, decent place to live. But too often, tenants face eviction or harassment for advocating for better living conditions,” said Senator Smith. “Empowering renters will allow millions of Americans to organize to fight against housing discrimination and skyrocketing rent, and to stand together for fair treatment.”
“Low-income renters using Housing Choice Vouchers or trying to find affordable housing have limited options, so when they’re facing a negligent landlord, they feel backed into a corner – either deal with poor living conditions or risk not being able to secure another affordable place to live. Giving these tenants the right to organize will allow them to hold landlords accountable and demand that issues with rent increases or living conditions be addressed. I’m proud to introduce this legislation that will empower renters and help keep them in safe, stable housing,” said Senator Murphy.
“Landlords shouldn’t be able to shut off heat in the winter or neglect repair requests in retaliation for families trying to organize about living conditions and speak up for themselves. For years, I have called on Congress to level the playing field and empower tenants to take on bad landlords. The Tenants’ Right to Organize Act will provide long overdue protections for Section 8 and LIHTC renters,” said Senator Warren.
Key Elements of the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act:
- Expanded Protections for Tenant Organizing: The bill guarantees families receiving tenant-based rental assistance the right to establish and participate in legitimate tenant organizations to address issues related to their living environment, such as the terms and conditions of their tenancy and other housing and community development activities.
- Preventing Retaliation and Protecting Tenant Activities: The bill protects tenants from adverse actions, such as eviction or harassment, in response to their participation in legitimate tenant organizations or exercising their rights.
- Accountability and Enforcement for Federal Funding Recipients: The bill requires public housing agencies and owners to recognize legitimate tenant organizations and respond meaningfully to their concerns. It also requires the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of the Treasury to establish enforcement protocols, including complaint filing processes, investigation of abuses, and regular reporting to Congress to ensure compliance.
- Funding and Support for Tenant Organizations: The bill provides dedicated funding to support tenant organizing and capacity building, ensuring that tenants have the resources and training needed to advocate for their rights effectively.
This bill has been endorsed by National Housing Law Project (NHLP), Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), Mobility Works, National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC), Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN), Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania, PA Fair Housing of the Capital Region, PA Fair Housing of Greater Pittsburgh, Liberation in a Generation, Policy Link, Center for Popular Democracy Action (CPD), PA Stands Up, Housing Action Illinois, National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT), and LOFTE Network (including Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Tenants Union of Washington State. the George Wiley Center, Greater Newark HUD Tenants Coalition, Arkansas Community Organizations, Greater Syracuse Tenants Network, New York Tenants and Neighbors, AIDS Healthcare Foundation/Housing Is a Human Right (Los Angeles), Metropolitan Tenants Organization (Chicago), United Community Housing Coalition (Detroit), and HOMELine (Minnesota)).
“Everyone deserves a safe, stable, and affordable home. Yet, across the country, landlords can abuse the broken rental market to intimidate, harass, and evict tenants who speak up for their basic rights. That’s why we’re proud to support the Tenants’ Right to Organize Act, which would expand the right to organize for tenants in federal housing programs,” said National Housing Law Project Executive Director Shamus Roller. “Tenants organized to get us here, and we’re grateful to Sen. Fetterman and Rep. Ramirez for fighting for them. This bill is a crucial step toward correcting the power imbalance between tenants and landlords.”
“Strong renter protections – like the right to organize – are critical to addressing the power imbalance between landlords and renters, ensuring racial equity, and ending the housing and homelessness crisis,” said Diane Yentel, president and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. “For decades, tenants have organized for improved living conditions, safety from unjust evictions, and for fair rent. However, not all renters have the right to organize. I applaud Senator Fetterman for introducing the Tenants Right to Organize Act to ensure all renters in federally assisted homes have the right to make their voices heard through collective action, without fear of retaliation.”
“Tenants receiving rental subsidies should be able to organize to assert their fair housing and other rights and to advocate for safe high-quality housing without the fear of retaliation. The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania supports the Tenants’ Right to Organize bill, to ensure that tenants have the right to organize legitimate tenant organizations which will help to advance fair and equal housing opportunities for all Americans,” said Rachel Wentworth, Executive Director of the Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania
“The right to organize is a long held American value. During this time of rising rents, which has led to a severe deficit of affordable housing across the nation, the most vulnerable among us have been extremely hesitant to demand their right to decent, dignified and secure housing. The Fair Housing Council is in favor of all efforts that allow tenants the opportunity to advocate on their behalf without fear of reprisal for doing so,” said The Fair Housing Council of the Capital Region staff and Board of Directors.
“As an organization that advocates and educates for greater choice and opportunity in the Housing Choice Voucher program, Mobility Works takes heed of the voices of those most affected by HCV policies. The right to organize and speak out is fundamental to self-determination and dignity for all renters, and low-income tenants are disproportionately affected by evictions and harassment. Introduction of the Tenants’ Right to Organize Bill (SIL24612) is a vital step to ensure this right for the nearly 5 million low-income households subsidized by HCV or LIHTC. We commend Senator Fetterman for his leadership and initiative on this issue,” said Valerie Rosenberg, Mobility Works.
“It is critical to extend an enforceable Right to Organize to federally-assisted buildings where five million tenants do not now have this protection. Vulnerable tenants all to often are intimidated or bullied when they assert their rights. We commend Senator Fetterman for taking the leadership in the Senate to provide tenants with these vital protections,” said Michael Kane, Chair, Leaders and Organizers for Tenant Empowerment (LOFTE) Network and Director, Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants.
“This bill gives a voice to tenants, who have otherwise been ignored. It establishes equal and fair representation under the law to protect people’s right to live and prosper in their community. This bill helps strengthen communities by fighting homelessness and allows for the dignity that people deserve,” said Michael Piersol, Berks Stands Up Member
“The balance of power when it comes to housing has been far too lopsided in favor of landlords and those in the top 1%. This bill is a great step to level the playing field to allow tenants to organize for the safe and affordable housing that they deserve without fear of retribution,” said Otis Ubriaco, Lancaster Stands Up Member
“A bill protecting tenant organizing is a powerful tool to ensure fair treatment, improve living conditions, and advocating for broader housing justice. This bill helps to enforce housing as a human right,” said Nicole Moy, Executive Director of the Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN)
Full text of the bill can be found here.
Read about it in the press.
