Prairie Dweller

I was given a damp gym mat to sleep on and put in a room with 16 bunk beds and at least 42 people. The lights were only partially dimmed at night. There was one shower, two sinks, and three open toilets. There were no utensils: people ripped off part of their trays to scoop up food. You didn’t get to leave to eat.

For an hour a day, they passed out tablets. Inmates could use apps to talk to loved ones or play games. All of which were very expensive. I never saw a lawyer. I was put in a room with a cop and spoke with a judge on a TV screen. I was charged with driving without insurance, an expired tag, and a failure to appear in court. I was convicted of an expired tag. And I was lucky that my stay was only three days. Because people had been in that room for months waiting to go to trial.

They make people beg to work at KFC.

You’ve heard of employee unions using collective bargaining to force the bosses to provide better pay and better working condiditions. But did you know if you rent an apartment in an apartment complex, you can do something similar?

It’s called a Tenant Association, and it’s basically a union for renters.

Here’s an overview of the why and how of forming a tenant association

Here’s a more thorough organizing manual

some of the rooms have fully stocked pantries with cooking equipment, some have movies like the one described above, some have books you're allowed to just take but people always put back- every day people bring things from the outside. artists often set up galleries there. there are rooms with mattresses and hammocks set up for people to sleep. one of the room is just a place where people leave shoes for the fun of it.