Jacksonville Tenants' Union, Inc.

Can My Apartments Be Part of JTU?

Sep 30, 2008

Jacksonville Tenants' Union [JTU] is a non-profit organization of HUD apartment complexes in Duval County, Florida, which are all linked together by JTU. Each complex has a "Resident Council" made up of residents of that complex to represent their individual needs. Members of the Resident Council are voted to their positions by a tenant election that is open to all tenants of that complex.

Resident Councils collectively, are represented by an Executive Board which addresses their concerns, and seeks resolution for the issue at hand; and if necessary, presents the issues to HUD or another appropriate agency or organization.

Tenants know what tenants need, therefore the best solutions often come from the source. The needs of one HUD complex are usually very similar to the needs of anothers. In most cases, tenant concerns invovle security on the property, and maintenance issues. Maintenance issues can sometimes be an issue for HUD, but most of the time these issues are resolved on-site with the property manager, either by the tenant or with the help of JTU.

Many times, tenants do not fully understand the role of HUD when addressing tenant issues; HUD concerns itself mostly with policy in regards to tenants. Most tenant issues are not HUD policy related, and it does little good to file a complaint with HUD. Occassionally, when an issue does surface that requires intervention from HUD, they are more receptive to a tenant organization like JTU, that represents many complexes in the city, than to an individual tenant. Tenant organizations are well respected by HUD; there has even been cases where HUD has sold a complex to a tenant organization for $1, and permitted them to resume management of the building. They can be a powerful force in the "HUD world."

There is no cost for standard membership to JTU, and the only requirement is that you live in HUD housing that is represented by a JTU Resident Council. Any "resident" can start a Resident Council in their HUD community by simply contacting us (on this website) for more information.

We hope that you will support JTU by starting a Resident Council in your community, or by becoming active with an existing Resident Council. Although donations are welcome, your membership makes us strong in ways that can really make a difference.

Thank You, for your interest and taking the time to read our newsletters.

God Bless You,

Thom Stephenson, Director