Page 6 RAlN December 1978 Being a tenant presents problems that under our present economic system THE TENANT/LANDLORD TANGO (TANGLE?) (profits above all) often seem impossible to remedy. What can a tenant do to cut erlergy costs in an uninsulated dwelling? Insulating increases the building value, but getting a landlord to make such an investment is extremely difficult. And tenants won 't reach payback (if they could afford to do it themselves) on their time/labor/money investment unless they're sure to inhabit that space over a number ofyears. So the cold comes through the floors and the heat goes out the windows. Tenants can organize and work on legislation extending landlord responsibility to include weatherization and conservation ofthe structures they own. Because of Oregon House Bill 2701, individual homeowners who make certain authorized home weatherization improvements can claim a personal income tax credit for 25 percent of the cost of purchasing and jnstalling weatherization materials up to a maximum of $125. Who pays for this? Other communities such as Minneapolis Housing and Redevelopment Authority offe r free insulation for low income homeowners. It 's great, but what about renters, and again, who pays fo r this?-re"ters are taxpayers, too. If there are tax credits paid by taxpayers, ShOllldll't renters qualify too? Or shouldn't it be the responsibility of the landlord? When energy is used inefficiently, we all pay for it, in one form or another. These questions come up often, and the answers aren't clear; it's time to get straight and start actualizing them. -LS 'COMMUNITY Saving Neighborhoods: Programs for Housing Rehabilitation and Neighborhood Revitalization Cary Lowe, 1978,64 pp., $2.00 individuals and community organizations, $4.00 all others from: California Public Policy Center 304 S. Broadway, Suite 224 Los Angeles, CA 90013 "The Greenlaw Addition" by Janet Nyberg Paraschos, American Preservation, June-Juiy 1978, $12/year, from: American Preservation The Bracy House P.O. Box 2451 Little Rock, AR 72203 Tenants Together: A Handbook for Tenant Organizing, 1978,48 pp., free (but donations accepted) from: Portland Tenants Union 834 S.E. Ash Portland, OR 97214 This handbook clearly describes all aspects of organizing a tenant's union, negotiating with landlords, eviction process, maintenance and repairs, tenant and landlord obligations (geared toward Oregon law, but a good model), and changing our housing system. The last section presenting alternatives has the most appeal to me. Although the section in this handbook is perhaps weakest in the area of cooperative housing, I believe that is one of our most effective means of changing the system. If your city does not have a tenants' union, or if you want a better understanding of the landlord/tenant tango (tangle), or want to gain bargaining strength and solidarity to implement some innovative proposals for change, this is a good tool to start with. Contains resources and bibliography. Portland Tenants' Union also publishes The Tenant's Voice, a bimonthly newspaper free to members (membership $6/year), which deals with local, national and international housing issues. -LS Revitalization of urban neighborhoods is one of the most promising developments of decaying cities. However, low income residents are often displaced in the process by speculators and the affluent. Saving Neighborhoods discusses the displacement problem, the housing shortage and federal and municipal rehabilitation programs. Two questions are raised in the report. First, should suc~ programs rehabilitate the physical structure only or revitalize an entire neighborhood? Secondly, is restoration being done for the benefit of low income persons currently living there? The Memphis neighborhood of Greenlaw Addition is attempting to answer those questions. Greenlaw Addition, an impoverished inner-ci~y community, is starting its comeback with the concerns of its residents in mind. A resident-conA Proposal for a Tenant Resource and Advocacy Center (TRAC), 1978, 57 pp., from: Center for Responsive Law P.O. Box 19367 Washington, DC 20036 Funding is a primary barrier to survival of most tenants' organizations. TRAC proposes a simple solution to the problem by charging tenants (say $6) yearly membership with rental payment to landlord who would then deposit fees annually to the city renewing his/her housing business licenses as a condition for renewal. There definitely are other options to using the city as a mediary-the money could be directly deposited to a TRAC account and a receipt shown for license renewal. This proposal outlines tenant problems, responses, reforms, describes TRAC, and finally provides a model statute to create TRAC via local city council approval. Existing tenants' unions might find useful solutions for dealing with problems and groups just forming al~o will find value here. Not all issues are addressed, nor are all the assumptions here adequate in their outlookso people forming unions would be wise to consult with established unions for additional feedback. -LS ducted survey assessed the needs of the neighborhood. The community organized workshops for job training in home repairs, home management courses and self-sufficient housing for the elderly. The problem of displacement may still exist, but the teaching of basic skills to the residents of Greenlaw allows them to become part of the revitalization process rather than its victim. --PC ECONOMICS Community Development Credit Union: A Self-Help Manual, Brad Caftel with Jack Anderson and Margaret Stone, 1978, 306 pp., $3.00 eligible clients, $10.00 others, from:
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