In 2003, Power U Center for Social Change began organizing renters in our base community of Overtown just north-west of Downtown Miami, FL. As a historically neglected community, the housing boom brought massive disinvestment in current homes and proposals for gentrifying developments. Through campaign victories and the rapid displacement of our base, Power U realized that the marginalized majority of the entire city are renters.
As we battled the housing boom and slum housing conditions in Overtown, neighborhoods that took the bait of inflated markets and irresponsible development, began suffering the same fate we had during the boom. The laws, policies, and systems that make renters vulnerable to housing booms and busts began displacing renters across all economic and ethnic markers.
With over 70% of the cities housing stock rental, Power U began the Renter Majority Project to organize renters to protect Miami from unscrupulous land practices, no fault displacement, and environmental hazards. The Renter Majority Project will energize a green, healthy, and just social change movement in Miami.
The Power U Renter Majority Project looks to harness the power of over 200,000 very diverse people living in rental housing in Miami. For a renter movement in Miami to be effective it must be lead by low-income renters who are most vulnerable to human rights violations and disenfranchisement. The Renter Majority Project centers and will be anchored around the development of low income, very low income, and no income leaders.
To begin engaging the city-wide renter base we have set out to collect the voices of 2,000 renters through surveys. The project will use both traditional street organizing methods and e-technology to mobilize renters for action, electoral participation, information sharing, and networking.