The Legends at Berry, a newly built Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) senior building in St. Paul, is publicly subsidized through the federal tax system to offer “affordable housing” to the community.
Despite being called “affordable housing,” a group of committed tenants had to begin meeting immediately because they were overwhelmed by the untenable rent hikes from the inception of their tenancy. As such, tenants fought to keep the St. Paul Rent Stabilization Ordinance intact, which passed by a wide margin of voters in the fall of 2021. (The City Council was considering exempting affordable housing from a 3% cap on yearly rent increases.)
Most Legends at Berry residents are on a fixed income, so unreasonable rent increases were devastating to most. In 2022, with support from ISAIAH and HOME Line tenant organizers, tenants testified at St. Paul City Council hearings deliberating on the ordinance’s future. Additionally, tenants and organizers coordinated a well-attended press release picketing with signs and speeches outside their building.
Despite all this work, the City Council exempted affordable housing and newly-constructed properties retroactively for 20 years. Therefore, The Legends at Berry were no longer under the protection of the city ordinance.
.Last fall, HOME Line organizers and a Housing Justice Center VISTA worker followed up with the tenant leaders. A subsequent invitation to their tenant’s coffee meeting let organizers hear the tenants’ concerns and helped them develop a “plan B” for the ordinance’s carve-outs.
Since then, the group has regularly met to build their base and form a residents’ association. That association has grown to an all-inclusive, well-integrated group of 70 residents. At least 40 tenants regularly show up to meetings every other week.
It was essential for the organizing team to ensure the community’s diversity was warmly welcomed and fully integrated for the overall success of the tenant association. With the varied skills of HOME Line’s organizing team, a bridge for the language and cultural barriers was possible, and a subsequent bond of trust followed, creating a cohesive and friendly community.
Since early July, a representative from City Councilmember Mitra Jalali’s office has attended the residents’ association’s meeting. And this past week, they were joined by Rep. Finke, their state representative, who is also a renter. The association shared background information as well as the following stories:
- Mona has been living at The Legends at Berry since May 2020. The rent has been going up yearly and is now at $1,301/month, 60% of her income. She had to sell her car to keep her home. She noted, “This is not affordable housing!”
- Sooc is a resident of The Legends at Berry. Her rent increased by $181 this year as it had the previous year. She is worried about next year. If there is another increase like this, that could drive her out of her home. There are other expenses, like utility bills, so keeping up is tough. She can only afford a 3% yearly increase.
- A single parent, Karen moved to The Legends at Berry in 2020. The rent was reasonable but not really affordable. She moved in with her adult daughter on disability, who moved out in 2021. Rent increased to $1,308, which is 60% of her income. Her monthly income is too high to receive food stamps, Metro Mobility, or any other state or federal help! She is highly-educated and worked for nonprofits and educational institutions, including public schools, the University of Minnesota, and Metro State University.
After hearing all this, Rep. Finke voiced her strong support for addressing their situation.
After Rep. Finke left for a prior commitment, the residents’ association continued meeting and decided to ask their elected leaders to support and help them secure a permanent 3% rent increase cap per year, in line with St. Paul Rent Stabilization Ordinance. No exceptions.
As such, the association looks forward to having a team of renters and organizing/advocacy staff meet with Rep. Finke to discuss their issues, ask for her support, and help get a 3% cap on future rent increases.
The Legends at Berry Residents’ Association will continue to engage elected and administrative officials who have the power to help them secure more affordable rents in the future.
Public Policy Director Michael Dahl and Hotline Tenant Advocate & Organizer/Translator Ubah Shire also contributed to this story.
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