What We Do?
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Hotline Support
24 hour hotline available for renters to receive free advocacy advice regarding how to handle slumlords, health concerns (ie mold, lead paint), ignored repair issues, evictions etc.
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Policy + Legislation
One of our primary goals is to ensure greater protections for renters through shaping a number of renter policies.
In June 2023, the Tenants Bill of Rights Committee (a select committee under TTGSTL) won Right to Counsel for renters in St. Louis City effective July 2024.
TTGSTL has also done work around pivotal housing policy such as Rental Registry, Safe Temps in Rentals and The Tenants Impact Fund.
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Tenant Organizing + Leadership
Supporting tenants rooted in shared demands and values who are looking to organize and take collective action towards gaining safer and healthier living conditions.
TTGSTL has catalyzed 5+ tenant associations one being to stop the eviction of Southwest Crossing Tenant Association, orchestrating a historical rent strike on the anniversary of St. Louis’ 1969 public housing tenant strike.
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Utility + Energy Burden Advocacy
In collaboration with Sierra Club St. Louis nother community organizations, Tenants Transforming Greater St. Louis has been educating communities via town halls on proposed consumer rate increases by utility companies, Ameren and Spire. Additionally hosting testimony training & aiding in community involvement at public hearings.
Since 2020, TGSTL has assisted tenants with utility assistance & resources to aid in utility bill burdens.
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Legal Advocacy + Empowerment
It is important for tenants and renters to know their rights and housing law. Part of our work has been to provide this resource to community. Later this year we will begin launching our Housing Navigator program created and led by our Legal Empowerment + Hotline Organizer.
Tenant Bill of Rights (TBOR)
In compliance with our mission to ensure that every St. Louisan has safe, dignified, affordable housing, Tenants Transforming Greater St. Louis is working collectively with other organizations to forward a Tenants Bill of Rights.
A tenant bill of rights is legislation designed to protect tenants from exploitation by landlords.
TBOR should be crafted through a community engagement process and informed by lived experience.
It will serve to eliminate any ambiguity by explicitly stating the rights of tenants and providing a comprehensive set of standards that landlords must maintain.
TBOR should serve as a tool to hold landlords accountable and strengthen tenant cases when lease terms have been violated, helping to ensure protections against health hazards, harassment, displacement, etc.
