#rentstrike

"Rent Strike / Tenants keep your rent, landlords keep your distance"

Join The NYC Eviction Defense Network

With the pandemic and economic crisis continuing unchecked, more than 50,000 New Yorkers face eviction when housing court reopens. Even more of us are struggling to afford food, medicine, and other necessities while being burdened with New York’s insane rents.

Unfortunately when eviction cases make it to court, the laws in place favor landlords over families and individuals. City marshals and police will try to forcibly remove people staying in their homes past a court mandated eviction.

We can work together to help people stay in their homes! In New York, coordinated resistance has lead to success. During the Great Depression, tenants in New York undertook massive rent strikes, and fought back against evictions using a range of creative and confrontational tactics. These renters were able to stay in their homes. In the Lower East Side, tenants fixed up buildings and resisted eviction for almost two decades!

With a solid plan and organization we can stay in our homes, and help others stay in theirs as well.

There are two ways you can help build the eviction defense network.

First, if you or someone you know can’t pay rent and fear eviction, we will help you set up an eviction defense group so that we can collectively pressure your landlord to do the right thing (description below). If you are interested in organizing a local eviction defense group or tenants union in your building or block, please get in touch with us. We have experienced tenant organizers who will help you through the process, and we would love to work with you. Reach out to us here: [email protected]

Second, you can join our city-wide eviction defense rapid response call list. We have to be ready to resist the landlords and courts when they inevitably lash out against tenants. You don’t need experience to participate. You simply have to be willing to fight for the right of you and your neighbors to stay in your homes. We will provide training on eviction defense based on practices that have been successful. By joining the city-wide eviction defense call list, you will be on call in case someone in your area faces harassment by their landlord or imminent eviction. Sign up here.

We would love to work with tenants or tenants union who share this vision. Please reach out to us if you would like assistance from this network!