Baltimore Renters United

History of BRU

BRU is a coalition of independent non-profit groups, legal services organizations, tenants’ associations, and community-based organizations who convene around a common purpose: working towards a Baltimore in which all renters live in safe and affordable housing that has security of tenure. In Baltimore City, 53% of homes are rentals, but many renters live in substandard conditions, paying more than they can afford for rent and cycling through debt collection and eviction.

In 2015, the Public Justice Center and Right to Housing Alliance published the report, Justice Diverted: How Renters are Processed in the Baltimore City Rent Court. The report shared that nearly 60% of renters surveyed at the time of eviction cases reported threats to health or safety in the home to their landlords. Only 8% of them were able to

effectively address housing defects in defense of their cases. In April 2017, the Baltimore Sun’s year-long investigation revealed that the Rent Court “routinely works against tenants, while in many cases failing to

hold landlords accountable when they don’t ensure minimum standards of habitability.”

Too many City renters are paying too much for housing that makes them sick, causing them to miss work and school. All the while, they are hounded by negligent property managers and slumlords and are often unable to make their case in court. BRU formed in 2017 to campaign for a level playing field for City renters.

In 2022, BRU went through a strategic plan process. To see the full strategic plan, click here.

Mission

Baltimore Renters United envisions a Baltimore where all renters have safe, stable, affordable, and fair housing and where all tenants, especially those who are marginalized by virtue of being Black, Brown, low-income, or otherwise, are free from exploitation. We envision a future where land and housing are community-controlled and a basic right.

Vision

Baltimore Renters United is building a tenant-led movement for housing justice. In collaboration with communities, organizers, legal advocates, and service providers, we use community organizing, political education, and advocacy to build the ranks of tenants who are prepared to advance renters’ rights and build tenant power in Baltimore.

Values

• Tenant-led – The work for housing justice must be accountable to Baltimore renters. Those who are directly impacted by the housing crisis, who are disproportionately Black and Brown women, families, and low income renters, must lead this movement.
• Racial Justice – Our work must be centered on dismantling the systemic racism that has constructed and maintains an inequitable housing system. Our movement builds towards a society where Black, Brown, and all marginalized people live with the dignity, resources, power, and self-determination to fully thrive.
• Movement-building – We are an organization focused on building tenants’ rights. We are creating a movement of renters to shift the balance of power.
• Collective Power – We are more powerful together than apart. The collective power of people, especially those directly impacted by housing injustice, can bring about meaningful, long-term change.
• The Right to Housing – Everyone deserves to live in safe housing with dignity and respect. Housing is critical to an individual’s quality of life and crucial to a flourishing society, the health of families, and the prosperity of communities.
• Political Education – Our movement must be self-perpetuating and intentionally generate strong leadership. We expose the realities of how the housing system works and raise public consciousness about the issues.
• Transparency and Accountability – We hold public institutions, including rent court, responsible for perpetuating housing injustice. When housing injustice is recognized, accountability and transparency is demanded from all appropriate institutions and governmental structures.

Members

Tier 1: These organizations are expected to have a representative regularly attend coalition meetings and participate in committees. These organizations have voting power on coalition-wide decisions.

• Greater Baltimore Democratic Socialists of America
• Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
• Public Justice Center
• Communities United
• Right To Housing Alliance
• United Workers Association
• Jews United for Justice
• Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition
• Copycat and Annex Tenants Union
• CASA
• Healthcare for the Homeless

Tier 2: These organizations opt out of regular participation in the coalition, but are supportive of the mission and goals. These organizations can provide input into decisions but will not having voting power.

• St. Ambrose Housing Aid Center
• Disability Rights Maryland