Help fight economic eviction in Capitol Hill
Donation protected
Tenants at the Kenton Apartments in Seattle's Capitol Hill are asking you to join our fight to be able to stay in our homes, and against economic eviction.
In late 2018 we found out that our building would be sold from its longtime owner. Knowing what we do about gentrification and housing trends in Capitol Hill and Seattle more broadly, tenants came together to begin organizing and building power amongst us.
On February 1st, Milestone Properties took ownership of our building and on March 1st, tenants began to receive notices to sign new leases with steep rent increases or to vacate our homes. Some of us received rent increases as high as 69%!
Tenants have been here as long as 11 years and we're invested in staying in our homes in a way that is affordable and sustainable. We know the only way to do this is through our collective action and with the support of our broader community. In other words, we want to stay and fight!
We are organized and we have demands!
Our demands are:
1. No more than 10% TOTAL housing cost increase per year for all tenants, present and future, starting immediately. This includes rent, utilities, parking, and storage fees. (According to Seattle Department of Construction & Inspection, housing costs “include rent, parking and storage fees, and other periodic fees associated with a tenancy.”)
2. Tenants currently month-to-month will receive new leases that meet the above terms, delivered for signature by April 1st, 2019.
3. As other leases expire, new leases will be delivered that meet the above terms.
Your support will help those of us who are most affected by these rent increases be able to stay and fight for our homes. It will provide an important buffer as we work to ensure long term affordability in our building and beyond.
The good news is that we have so many leverage points! Milestone owns over 500 units in Seattle proper and many more in the greater PNW. We imagine what it might be like if all Milestone tenants were organized in the way that we have started to be!
We say this knowing that this is so much bigger than any one building or one property management company. We see our current situation as part of a broader fight for affordable housing and against gentrification in Seattle.
We can have rent control and community control over housing if we move together!
Any funds that are not distributed directly to tenants in our building will be distributed to other buildings and tenants working to fight for affordable housing.
Please feel free to be in touch with us if you have questions, concerns, or if you would like to discuss your own situation around fighting economic eviction. We'd love to hear from you! [email redacted]
We promise to keep you posted as our campaign unfolds. There will be opportunities to join us and to build community together!
In late 2018 we found out that our building would be sold from its longtime owner. Knowing what we do about gentrification and housing trends in Capitol Hill and Seattle more broadly, tenants came together to begin organizing and building power amongst us.
On February 1st, Milestone Properties took ownership of our building and on March 1st, tenants began to receive notices to sign new leases with steep rent increases or to vacate our homes. Some of us received rent increases as high as 69%!
Tenants have been here as long as 11 years and we're invested in staying in our homes in a way that is affordable and sustainable. We know the only way to do this is through our collective action and with the support of our broader community. In other words, we want to stay and fight!
We are organized and we have demands!
Our demands are:
1. No more than 10% TOTAL housing cost increase per year for all tenants, present and future, starting immediately. This includes rent, utilities, parking, and storage fees. (According to Seattle Department of Construction & Inspection, housing costs “include rent, parking and storage fees, and other periodic fees associated with a tenancy.”)
2. Tenants currently month-to-month will receive new leases that meet the above terms, delivered for signature by April 1st, 2019.
3. As other leases expire, new leases will be delivered that meet the above terms.
Your support will help those of us who are most affected by these rent increases be able to stay and fight for our homes. It will provide an important buffer as we work to ensure long term affordability in our building and beyond.
The good news is that we have so many leverage points! Milestone owns over 500 units in Seattle proper and many more in the greater PNW. We imagine what it might be like if all Milestone tenants were organized in the way that we have started to be!
We say this knowing that this is so much bigger than any one building or one property management company. We see our current situation as part of a broader fight for affordable housing and against gentrification in Seattle.
We can have rent control and community control over housing if we move together!
Any funds that are not distributed directly to tenants in our building will be distributed to other buildings and tenants working to fight for affordable housing.
Please feel free to be in touch with us if you have questions, concerns, or if you would like to discuss your own situation around fighting economic eviction. We'd love to hear from you! [email redacted]
We promise to keep you posted as our campaign unfolds. There will be opportunities to join us and to build community together!
Organizer
Kenton Co-op
Organizer
Seattle, WA
