Retirees Demand Housing Rights

 

There was standing room only at the VFW in Niantic as Trena from Stand-Up New London and Beth from the Center for Housing Equity & Opportunity spoke. Invited by a community of white-haired retirees, the speakers were teaching the elders their civil and political rights because a mega landlord has come to their small town and is upending the community.

The seniors are mobilizing because Alpha Capital Fund bought their complex, cut services, and is raising rent by over 90%. The mostly female occupants of the 60-unit complex are not alone. A multi-generational, multi-racial coalition, from Alpha’s other buildings are standing in solidarity with Niantic’s seniors.

The community discussed a disgusting and discriminatory public statement in which Alpha brazenly said they don't want seniors on fixed incomes living in “their” building, that retired workers aren't their preferred demographic.

Others shared that Alpha's building isn't handicapped accessible, causing wheelchair users to have to wait in the rain until a neighbor comes by to open the door. A child explained that Alpha makes her mother use an app to pay their rent online, even though they don't have computers. Everyone in the room agreed that action was necessary to protect the community.

On August 7, the East Lyme Board of Selectmen will be holding a public hearing on the establishment of a Fair Rent Commission. In response to a demand from the audience that the town “do more doing and less talking,” an elected official explained that the ordinance-drafting and approval process could take several months.

In response, the coalition collectively read the Fair Rent Commission statute and pointed out that the town could immediately join an already-existing Commission in a neighboring town without delay!

Several members explained that Commissions give communities the power to democratically challenge a landlord's demand for money. Several speakers from neighboring communities explained that Commissions in Groton, New London, Clinton, and Willimantic require landlords to open their books, explain their profit rates, and justify their greed.

Beth ended the meeting with a call to action: “We need to value each other over the almighty dollar.” The collective will be at the August 7 hearing at 7:00 pm at the East Lyme Town Hall to demand their government safeguard their human rights.