Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia

Mission: 

United Renters For Justice/Inquilinxs Unidxs por Justicia (IX) works for permanently affordable democratic housing and structural changes: tenant unions, rent stabilization, stronger enforcement of renter protections, and community-owned housing. The four pillars that make up our organization are Community, Justice, Transformation, and Struggling Together.

Who we are: 

Inquilinxs Unidxs Por Justicia (United Renters for Justice) is more than just a non-profit. It is an organization that is built from the ground up by the community for the community. We are an organization that is led by tenants who are affected by abusive landlords and are being pushed out of their communities due to gentrification. Here at IX, we bring groups of tenants in Minneapolis’ worst housing systems together to analyze problems occurring in their living situation and then strategize and organize around those problems to create affordable and dignified living spaces in Minneapolis.

IX is committed to continuing to fight alongside Minneapolis tenants for safe, affordable, dignified housing. In order for IX to continue to support tenants we need your support. You can donate here. Every gift supports the work that IX continues to do across the city of Minneapolis, we need your support this #GivetotheMax2024  OUR WEBSITE

Campaigns

Cielo Sin Limites - Sky Without Limits: A multi-year campaign organized against one of the most powerful landlords in Minneapolis was long fought. In 2020, IX members - undocumented, black, femme, trans, and working-class people - evicted their landlords. This transformative change formed Sky without limits. Tenants are building generational wealth, amplifying political power, and confronting corporate wealth extraction. In addition, the cooperative centers participatory and consensus decision-making, building a community based on autonomy, justice, collaboration, and dignity.

Key milestones: 

2020: after 5 years of tenant organizing, corporate landlord Stephen Frenz sold 5 buildings to the Land Bank Twin Cities to steward as we fundraise for its buyout and transition to community ownership: NY TIMES ARTICLE

2020-2021: 10+ units remodeled and rehabilitated to livable standards; tenants established Emergency Resource Center to alleviate food insecurity during the pandemic and uprisings

2023: $2 million fundraised for final purchase; SWL establishes 501c3 status and Board of Directors

2024: expanded cooperative programming including a community food garden and mobile health clinics conducted by the Community-University Health Care Center (CUHCC)

Progress Residential (Also known as HavenBrook):

Wall Street's private equity landlord Pretium Partners is one of the largest real estate companies that owns around 200 single-family rental homes in primarily low-income, Black neighborhoods in North Minneapolis. These single-family rental properties are managed by Progress Residential. Tenants who live in Progress Residential homes describe large rent increases, unnecessary fees, mold, lack of communication, going weeks without heat, pest infestations, and such deplorable conditions that families had to send their children to live with relatives or friends. Tenants are calling for a long-term solution where they have safe and dignified housing.

Tenant Unions: 

For the past decade, IX has been organizing tenant unions in landlord portfolios across Minneapolis to win safe and dignified housing for all. We invest in tenant leaders and co-create campaigns with renters who share a landlord to build solidarity and address systemic housing violations. Through training, support, and structured leadership development, tenants set and implement our organizing strategy. 

 Housing improvements achieved:

- Major Repairs for 600+ households, including mold remediation, lead abatement, pest control, heating, plumbing, and structural repairs

-Housing stabilized for 200+ families through rent freezes, overturned evictions, and landlord-paid relocations

-Worked with the City of Minneapolis to hold landlords accountable for the conditions in their properties, resulting in process and policy change at City Regulatory Services.

-$23 million recovered for renters in returned and discounted rent and fees, restitution and compensation, and relocation assistance

-Pathways to long-term affordable housing and/or homeownership for ~300 families in partnership with affordable housing nonprofits, community land trust, LISC, and the City of Minneapolis