These resources were authored by Strategic Actions for a Just Economy, a nonprofit organization in South Central Los Angeles that builds community power and leadership for economic justice, and Public Health Law Center, a nonprofit affiliate of Mitchell Hamline School of Law, with support from IMT.
If we’re going to reduce carbon emissions and curb climate change, building decarbonization is an essential piece of the puzzle. However, due to weaknesses in tenant protections across the country, policies that mandate costly decarbonization renovations in rental housing will likely result in rent increases and unnecessary or illegal evictions. To avoid worsening the housing crisis through efforts to mitigate the climate crisis, decarbonization policies must be designed with tenants—especially Black, brown, and low-income residents—at the center. Passing strong tenant protections can prevent rent increases, displacement, and harassment stemming from building decarbonization efforts. State and local governments must also develop enforcement mechanisms and provide funding to ensure that those rights are upheld.
The report, and accompanying fact sheet, include case studies on tenant protections in Los Angeles, New York, and Chicago. It also outlines policy recommendations on affordability, eviction prevention, habitability during retrofits, and enforcement.
