Alex Gillis (UTI)
Madison, WI, On May 26th three Republican senators introduced a bill to prohibit local governments to legislate rules to protect tenants from Landlord abuse and discrimination. The bill SB107, is basically aimed at the city of Madison which so far has the best local laws protecting tenants’ rights throughout Wisconsin.
If this law passes in the fall, landlords of Madison may require social security number, ask for proof of salary of up to three times the price of rent, could use any criminal record without any time or severity limitations to deny a tenant’s application. Also, remove the deposit limit, now one month in advance, in other cities landlords ask for the first and last month rent and deposit before entering the building.
More info read awesome Brenda Konkel post
How will it affect immigrant families?
Landlords will have new ways to drive families out of their homes, and thus undocumented families, poor or people with criminal background will not be free to choose where they want to live. For these families, the apartments of good quality are unattainable, as the departments that they will have access are those with the worst conditions, humidity, lack of repair, dirty, etc..
This practice is common in many cities, using excuses such as social security number or criminal record they are pushing color, poor and immigrant families from the “good” areas into the worst neighborhoods of the city.
Why such a law now?
Despite the crisis that we live nowadays, Madison experienced an increase in the use of rental housing, 50% of the city lives in rented spaces, this is especially as more and more families are losing their homes and many more cannot afford to buy a home. This increase in the demand has caused an raise of rent housing prices in the last year alone, two-bedroom apartments have risen by 15%!
"Businessman fill their pockets with money while not money is spent in repairing and maintaining homes, is a perfect business," explains Jorge Carrera "I have been three weeks without a stove, but I have to pay rent anyway, with the current law I can ask part of my rent back, but if they pass the law the landlord is not obligated to pay me anything even though my family has been uncomfortable and in fact we spent more money eating out, how can this be fair?"
"The landlords’ association has asked remove protections for tenants so they can keep raising rents while maintaining thousands of poor and immigrant families in health and hygiene compromised housing." Explains Jean B. student and volunteer from the IWU.
The Immigrant Workers Union Proposes UNITY to improve our homes
This law only worsens the situation of housing in Madison, however, the housing situation for immigrants, people of color and poor has been worsening for the last recent years, fraud and abuse cases multiply each month. "Last week I visited a neighbor of Thurston Dr, showed me her apartment, wet spots around the house, broken furniture, walls and the carpet worn to the limit, this is the image of our homes, most of our families we have young children, sick or elderly people, how dear landlords charge us rent and call this kind of housing a home? "Explained Yvonne Geerts leader of the ICU.
The IWU in coordination with other organizations such as the Tenant Resource Center has begun a campaign of information and organization of tenants in the city of Madison to stop the bill to become law and creating neighborhood committees to protect and demand better housing.
This topic will be discussed in the Community Forum this July 9 at 1 pm at Labor Temple (1402 Park St, by the post office) for more information call 608/514-1575
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