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 led by tenants most impacted by abusive landlords and gentrification: working-class BIPOC and immigrant renters who are increasingly pushed out of their communities and bare the brunt of housing disparities. Here at IX, we bring groups of tenants in Minneapolis’ worst housing systems together to analyze problems in their living situation, then strategize and build collective power to enforce tenant protections, improve living conditions, and create equitable and dignified housing.

IX is committed to fighting alongside Minneapolis tenants for safe, affordable, dignified housing. This #GivetotheMax2024, we are counting on your support to amplify tenant voices and power. Your contribution directly supports tenants along the entire continuum of housing, from recovering excessive fees to securing critical repairs to fighting unjust evictions and the opportunity to purchase their rental homes. See how we've accomplished some of these ambitious goals: OUR WEBSITE

Programs & Initiatives:

Cielo Sin Límites - Sky Without Limits Housing Cooperative: 

After a multi-year campaign against one of the most powerful landlords in Minneapolis, in 2020 IX members - undocumented, black, femme, trans, and working-class renters - evicted their landlord. This transformation formed Sky Without Limits, where tenants are building a community based on autonomy, justice, collaboration, and dignity through participatory and consensus decision-making, 

 NY TIMES ARTICLE

Thanks to the generosity of individual and institution donors, we have fundraised $2 million and are finalizing the financing package to purchase 4 out of the 5 buildings by February 2025. Transitioning it to full community ownership stabilizes these units, takes them out of the speculative market, and empowers tenants to build generational wealth and political power.

Tenant Unions: 

We organize tenants by landlord portfolio to address systemic housing violations. Through training, support, and structured leadership development, we invest in tenant leaders and co-create organizing strategies with renters to build solidarity and win safe and dignified housing for all.

In the last 10 years, we have:

- Won major repairs for 600+ households, including mold remediation, lead abatement, pest control, heating, plumbing, and structural repairs
- Stabilized housing 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.
- Recovered $23 million for renters in returned and discounted rent and fees, restitution and compensation, and relocation assistance
- Created pathways to long-term affordable housing and/or homeownership for 300 families in partnership with affordable housing nonprofits, City of Lakes Community Land Trust (CLCLT), LISC, and the City of Minneapolis.

Most recently, we organized tenants renting from Progress Residential (formerly known as HavenBrook Homes), the nation's largest single-family homeowner with over 200 homes in North Minneapolis. Through a settlement with the Minnesota State Attorney General, Northside tenants won a record $4.2 million in compensation, including:

- $2 million in debt forgiveness
- $2.2 million in a restitution fund for those who have experienced delayed repairs, elevated lead levels, and evictions during the eviction moratorium
- All fees returned
- $1000 for relocation
- Opportunity and technical assistance through an intermediary to buy their existing homes