Tenant Organizing

Supporting Tenant Rights, Empowering Communities, and Advocating for Housing Justice

About Tenant Organizing

The Tenant Organizing initiative at United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC) is dedicated to empowering Detroit tenants to advocate for their rights, improve their living conditions, and create lasting change in their communities. By offering education, resources, and support, we work alongside tenants to foster the formation of tenant associations, advocate for tenant rights, and push for policies that address housing affordability, quality, and security.

Our initiative provides the necessary tools to help tenants organize and form associations, including training on leadership, organizational structure, and advocacy strategies. We also offer resources like meeting space, materials, and funding to support tenant-led projects and initiatives.

Through these efforts, UCHC is working to increase tenant representation in housing policy, fight displacement, and ensure safe, affordable housing for all. By promoting collaboration between tenants, landlords, property managers, and government agencies, we help communities address critical issues like rising rents, eviction threats, and substandard living conditions.

Our Approach

Client Resources

Tenant Organizing is about more than just education—it’s about creating collective power. We believe that when tenants unite and organize, they can become a powerful force for change. Our approach includes:

Training and Empowerment: We provide comprehensive training on organizing strategies, leadership development, and effective advocacy to help tenants become self-sufficient and confident in asserting their rights.
Collaboration: We work in partnership with tenants, landlords, local government, and community-based organizations to address common challenges and advocate for stronger tenant protections.
Advocacy: We support tenants in advocating for policy changes at local and state levels to improve tenant protections, increase affordable housing options, and enhance living conditions.
Community Building: Our goal is to strengthen communities by fostering connections between tenants, building networks of tenant associations, and ensuring that tenants are included in housing decisions that affect them.

Tenant Organizing Impacts

Preventing Displacement: Since 2006, UCHC has been the only recognized tenant organizer in Detroit. We’ve been a critical resource for low-income tenants, especially in neighborhoods with Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing (NOAH), where displacement has been a significant issue. Through our efforts, tenants have been supported with housing relocation, financial assistance, and a voice in decisions affecting their homes.
Improving Living Conditions: Our work with tenants helps improve living conditions across Detroit. By organizing tenants, we enable them to collectively address issues like unsafe living conditions, illegal rent hikes, and eviction threats. This collective action often results in better-maintained properties, fairer rental agreements, and more secure housing for tenants.
Shaping Housing Policy: UCHC is committed to making systemic changes that benefit tenants. Our advocacy has led to stronger tenant protections, increased funding for affordable housing, and critical policy changes at both the local and state levels. We continue to push for laws that prioritize tenants' rights, housing security, and access to affordable homes.
Strengthening the Community: Our Tenant Organizing initiative is not just about individual tenants—it’s about the collective well-being of the community. By preserving affordable housing, reducing housing insecurity, and advocating for tenant rights, we help create stronger, more resilient communities. The work we do together prevents the negative consequences of eviction, foreclosure, and displacement, ultimately benefiting all Detroit residents.

Our History: Tenant Organizing at the Heart of UCHC

The roots of United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC) are deeply embedded in the history of tenant organizing in Detroit. Founded in 1973 by a group of determined tenants, UCHC grew out of a grassroots effort to fight displacement, substandard living conditions, and the lack of tenant protections in the city.

From the very beginning, UCHC’s mission has been driven by the belief that tenants have the power to create meaningful change in their own communities. The founders of UCHC were not just advocating for better housing—they were organizing their neighbors to take collective action, stand up to unfair landlords, and ensure their voices were heard in local housing policies. This powerful movement of tenant advocacy and community empowerment laid the foundation for UCHC’s ongoing work and commitment to housing justice.

Today, tenant organizing remains at the core of everything we do. Our current efforts continue to build on this rich history, providing support, resources, and advocacy tools to tenants across Detroit. Whether forming tenant associations, advocating for stronger housing protections, or collaborating with community partners, UCHC remains true to its founding principles: that housing is a human right and that collective action is key to achieving justice and stability for all renters.

Why Tenant Organizing Matters

Tenant Organizing is crucial to creating a housing system that is equitable and just. Through collective action, tenants can:

Build a collective voice to stand up to landlords and local authorities.
Gain power in housing policy decisions, ensuring their voices are heard in shaping the future of housing in Detroit.
Promote affordable and healthy housing that meets the needs of all residents.
Prevent displacement and reduce housing insecurity, preserving the fabric of Detroit’s neighborhoods.

UCHC is committed to standing with tenants and ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities necessary to live in safe, stable, affordable homes. Our work is about creating long-term change and ensuring tenant rights are respected, housing is livable, and everyone has a place to call home.

Get Involved

Whether you are a tenant facing challenges or a community member looking to support the fight for housing justice, there are many ways to get involved. Reach out to us to learn how you can organize, advocate, and make a difference in Detroit’s housing landscape.