RHIC believes that strong, trained, democratically led tenant associations, with members who share the same values and leadership skills are crucial to healthy neighborhoods. The neighborhood includes tenants from different ethnic backgrounds, cultures, age groups, and levels of physical ability, and everyone has a voice that must be heard.

Just as important, healthy leadership among tenants contributes to healthy leadership in the Reservoir Hill community at-large.

To this end, RHIC helps strengthen existing tenant organization and create it where it does not exist. RHIC also works directly with property owners to improve the quality of rental property. Further, RHIC supports initiatives that strengthen the rights of tenants.

Reservoir Hill has several large apartment buildings which house about 25% of the community’s population. Among these high rises are the Riveria, Chateau, Esplanade, Emersonian, Temple Gardens, Lakeview Towers, and Madison Park North Apartments. Except for the Emersonian, which is market-rate, these buildings receive subsidies and tax credits for affordable rental.

In autumn 2006, RHIC began a concentrated drive organizing tenants in these buildings in an effort to increase their involvement in community and city-wide improvement efforts, address their concerns, and foster strong and organized tenant voices. Most of RHIC’s work has been focused on developing effective tenant leadership and helping to foster better relationships between tenants and landlords. The Public Justice Center has been a valuable partner in helping RHIC and tenants to understand tenant-landlord laws and to take action when necessary.  Tenant groups are also beginning to form working relationships with City officials to increase their ability to effectively advocate for their needs.

RHIC is not yet active in all of the apartment buildings, but is always willing to work with tenants who are ready to get involved with tenant-landlord matters.

Renaissance in Reservoir Hill

This historic rehab of 44 Housing Authority of Baltimore City-owned properties is a partnership of Pennrose Properties, HABC, RHIC, and Reservoir Hill H.O.P.E. The rental portion of the rehab was completed in 2006, and 64 units are now leased to low and moderate income families. RHIC worked with Pennrose Properties to ensure that existing tenants did not have to get relocated. Many of the units were already vacant, so, as units were renovated, tenants simply moved from their current apartment to a newly renovated apartment.

There are particular issues impacting tenants that also impact the broader community. For instance, the RHIC office has for years received calls from residents, tenants and homeowners alike, complaining about the possessions of an evicted tenant being dumped on the street, sidewalk, or alley until the City comes to remove the material.

RHIC worked with Public Justice Center and Citizens Planning & Housing Association as part of the Rental Housing Coalition to pass a law in Baltimore City requiring that notice be given a tenant of the exact date of eviction, and that landlords assume responsibility for disposal of the goods. RHIC felt that such a bill could both reduce evictions and eliminate the unsanitary and unsightly practice of dumping eviction goods in public areas.

Click here for the Summer 2007 issue of View From the Hill where you can read an article describing the bill.

Reservoir Hill Improvement Council Vice-President Darryl Smith sat on a city task force that helped craft the Clean Streets Bill. Many Reservoir Hill residents wrote letters in support of the bill, and gave testimony in hearings at City hall in favor of the bill.  The campaign was grassroots from the start, and it was active residents that made it a reality.

The Clean Streets Bill (Council Bill 07-0665) was passed unanimously in August 2007 by the City Council and signed into law by Mayor Sheila Dixon.  The new law went into effect on 1 October 2007.  In addition to establishing more equitable procedures for tenant eviction, the new law prohibits landlords from dumping an evicted tenant’s possessions onto the sidewalk, street, alley, or any other public right-of-way.  A landlord that fails to comply with this ordinance can be charged with a criminal misdemeanor and a $1000 fine.

To learn about the stipulations of the law and procedures for tenants and landlords, click here.  This booklet walks you through the provisions, expectations, and procedures of the law.

Click here for the form required to give notice to tenants of the exact date of eviction.

You can help enforce the new law. Click here for an Action Alert that tells you how to report illegal eviction dumping.