Support the Tenants Union!
Washington State tenants have won important legal protections, but these rights don't go far enough. Members help build the movement to protect and expand tenants rights and make the promise of safe, healthy, affordable housing a reality.
About the Tenants Union
The mission of the Tenants Union (TU) is to create housing justice through empowerment-based education, outreach, leadership development, organizing, and advocacy. Founded in 1977, the TU carries on a proud legacy of work to create concrete improvements in tenants’ living conditions and challenge and transform unjust housing policies and practices. As a membership organization, the TU’s work is grounded in the strong conviction that tenants must be the leaders of efforts to transform our housing conditions and communities. The TU embraces the values of equality, hope, tenant leadership, respect, direct action, civic courage, racial and economic justice, and self-determination in our work.
Tenants Union of Washington Brochure
Tenants Union Organizational Chart
There are no current employment opportunities at the TU.
Resolution to Strengthen and Protect the Human Rights of Immigrants to the United States
WHEREAS, the Tenants Union of Washington State draws inspiration from Article One of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:
“All humans are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”
WHEREAS, there is currently a growing movement to pass anti-immigrant initiatives and legislation around the country.
WHEREAS, these legislative proposals and initiatives both reflect and generate anti-immigrant prejudices and discrimination.
WHEREAS, the Tenants Union of Washington State recognizes the history of racial and ethnic discrimination through legislation to limit the opportunities and rights and racial and ethnic groups and immigrants and to divide oppressed peoples.
- We believe all tenants have the right to affordable decent housing, free from excessive and frequent rent increases.
- We believe all homes should be safe and secure in order to ensure the privacy of tenants.
- We seek to end arbitrary evictions and all retaliatory actions against tenants.
- We believe that all people should have access to housing free from discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, political ideology, lifestyle, age, family status, marital status, amount or source of income, or disability.
- We believe that all tenants have the right to organize and determine the rules and conditions of their tenancy through collective bargaining and other means.
- We believe that all tenants have the right to live in the neighborhood of their choice, and we seek to increase the supply of rental housing, particularly for low and middle income tenants.
- We believe that housing exists to meet a basic human need, and that when conflict arises between tenants’ needs and owners’ profits, the basic need for affordable decent housing must take priority over the economic interests of the landowners.
- We, the members, commit ourselves to working together to accomplish the above stated goals.
Current Funders
- Tenants Union Members: The work of the TU has been sustained for over 34 years through the support of its membership. Members are the heart of the TU’s work for housing justice, and are the strongest base of support we have. For more information or to become a member of the Tenants Union, see Tenants Union Membership.
- A Place to Live: A Place to Live is the support organization for the Benson East Tenant Association (BETA). BETA is the Northwest’s first tenant-owned property that was organized in 2000 by the Tenants Union. BETA is committed to fighting for housing justice and tenant autonomy by advancing tenant ownership campaigns and tenant empowerment. See Tenant Ownership for more information.
Tenants Union of Washington State
5425 Rainier Avenue S Ste B
Seattle, WA 98118-2455
The Tenants Union is open limited hours. See Tenants Rights Counseling for a listing of our walk-in hours and services.
Meet the staff and board of the Tenants Union.
TU Victory! Started by volunteers in 1977, the Tenants Union has a long history of victories for housing justice through education, organizing and advocacy. These victories were led and supported by our membership. For more information on how to become a member, see Tenants Union Membership.
