Madison Tenant Power

07/23/2026

Madison Tenant Power mourns the killing of Corey Ruiz and extends our deepest condolences to his family and to everyone grieving this loss.

If reports that Ruiz experienced homelessness are accurate, his death should force our city to confront a painful truth: we cannot police our way out of housing insecurity, poverty, or mental health crises. This tragedy comes amid ongoing efforts by some residents to remove a homeless encampment near where Ruiz was killed. Every time we treat homelessness as a public safety problem instead of a housing and public health issue, vulnerable people face the criminal legal system rather than the support they need.

Stable housing, accessible mental health care, substance use treatment, food security, and quality healthcare reduce the conditions that lead people into crisis far more effectively than policing.

Madison Tenant Power calls for a full, transparent investigation into Corey Ruiz’s death and for renewed investment in the systems that actually keep communities safe: deeply affordable housing, eviction prevention, permanent supportive housing, mental health care, food access, healthcare, and community-based crisis response

07/22/2026

state policy goals: 1) Rent control, 2) Social housing, 3) Preserve existing affordable housing

local policy goals:

1) Public registry of building code violations, 2) Vacancy tax, 3) 48-hour repair deadlines for hazardous conditions

07/17/2026

When tenants work together, they have more power. A tenant union helps neighbors push for repairs, respond to rent increases, and deal with other housing problems.

Learn who owns your building, document problems, report them, and connect with your neighbors to take action together.

Everyone has a role in a tenant union. You can host tenant meetings, organize social events, and get to know your community.

07/13/2026

A city-wide assembly brings organized tenants together (over tacos).

This year’s Open House Tenant Assembly brought together tenants from co-ops, apartment complexes, single-family homes, and condominiums to compare our experiences and decide where our movement should go next.

We spent thirty minutes discussing the problems we were experiencing in our own housing. Neighbors talked about experiencing retaliation for asking for repairs, deteriorating maintenance under corporate landlords, HVAC failures, lead paint, and the challenge of organizing neighbors who were nervous about speaking publicly.

Using sticker surveys, we reached broad agreement that RENT CONTROL should be the tenant movement’s primary concern.

We ended the assembly by choosing real community projects for the months ahead. Organized tenants agreed on our priorities (information-sharing, social events, and a shared issue log) and designed three suitable community projects: 1) neighborhood canvassing in neighborhoods with a high rate of eviction, 2) community events at a local co-op, and 3) sharing stories about our wins and victories.

Next, we’ll start planning our new community projects.

At our next Working Meeting on Monday August 3rd at 6 PM, we’re going to discuss the outcomes from the Open House Assembly — anyone is welcome to join!

August Working Meeting
Monday August 3rd at 6 PM
Meeting link: https://meet.jit.si/MadisonTenantPower

Thank you to everyone who came and made the assembly such a welcoming space. We’re just getting started!

07/07/2026

share your stories and your ideas for improvements to housing access:

The 2026 Open House Assembly will bring local tenants and renters together to talk about housing justice in Wisconsin. How can we build momentum for tenant rights in Madison? small group workshops on the basics of neighborhood organizing group strategy conversations time to decide together what come...

06/27/2026

🏘️ Strong communities start close to home.

A rapid response network is just neighbors looking out for each other — sharing resources, checking in during emergencies, and building trust before a crisis happens.

Whether it’s rides, groceries, safety checks, or support during difficult times, organizing where you live creates real protection and care.

Start small by knock on a door, learning each others names, and building connection. 🌱

06/25/2026

🏠 Join the Tenant Union!

More than 300 tenants have already filled out our Welcome Form! Our goal is 1,000 tenants by May 2027.

The form takes less than a minute and asks three simple questions:

• Who is your landlord?
• Who manages your building?
• What neighborhood do you live in?

We use this information to connect you with organized tenants nearby and  identify patterns across landlords.

📲 Scan the QR code or visit:
madisontenantpower.org/join

When tenants organize together, we can win better repairs, fight rent increases, stop displacement, and build a stronger movement for housing justice.

06/23/2026

outreach day!
saturday june 27 , 10am - 12pm

we are going to be inviting businesses on the south side to the open house tenant assembly.

06/21/2026

Come to the community budget meeting to talk to city staff about the changes you would like to see in Madison!

community budget meeting
june 24th @ 6 - 8 pm
warner park community recreation center

Madison Tenant Power asks that the 2026 city budget includes $$$ for:

1) public registry of building code violations
2) tenant education about building inspection + rent abatement
3) anonymous + incentivized reporting for tenants least likely to report building issues (low-income families)

06/20/2026

“Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.”

Audre Lorde

Tips for Self-Care

* be honest
* assert your boundaries
* prioritize rest
* limit social media and news
* make art

What are your signs that you are burned out?