No One's Picking Up
If You Need the Help of the Tenants Union—Let's Say Your Landlord Is Trying to Illegally Evict You—You'd Better Call Soon
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Renters have been jamming the phone lines at the Tenants Union of Washington State for years. Once you get through, hotline workers explain your legal rights in dealing with a landlord who refuses to fix plumbing or tries to illegally evict you. But since July 1, fewer callers can get through. Two employees, including the director, left last month when the group lost most of its funding, leaving only two part-time staffers to answer the phones 10 hours a week. Now, Tenants Union board members are playing two roles: volunteering for the hotline and running a fundraising blitz to save the 32-year-old group.
Last year, King County slashed funding to human services from the 2009 budget to manage a $93 million deficit. The county sustained the Tenants Union and a handful of other organizations in a "lifeboat" through the end of June, but that funding has run out. Board members realized that if they don't raise $25,000 by July 16—which would keep the Tenants Union afloat through the end of the year while they find new funding—they will be forced to dissolve the organization.
Stranger Personals
How would losing the Tenants Union affect the average renter? "It
might mean being at your landlord's mercy," says board member Lisa
Herbold, who held a "raise the rent" party in her home on July 5,
bringing in $2,600 (the group has another $10,000 pledged). (Herbold
works in city council member Nick Licata's office; two more Tenants
Union board members also work in city government.) "The only other
organization locally is Solid Ground, and they are already taking more
calls than they can handle." When I called Solid Ground, a
social-service nonprofit, a receptionist said no one could take my call
because "everyone here is so busy." 
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"realized that if they don't raise $25,000 by July 16.....they will be forced to dissolve the organization."
I've been working with non-profits over the past 2 1/2 years, and while the non-profit sector does not/should have an emphasis on making large profits (duh), it is rather startling to realize how many non-profits fail to take note from successful for-profit entities.
Things such as, oh say, a strategic plan. And, what the heck, maybe a board comprised of diverse people who bring to the table a variety of skills and strengths. For instance maybe one board member is skilled at bookkeeping and accounting (aka a bookkeeper/accountant), and maybe having at least two board members who are skilled grant writers.
Like I said, I think the organization offers a very worthy service, a lot of non-profits do, but it seems time after time lack of planning and foresight (did they not realize that when they got the money they did, they would have to be looking forward toward the next quarter or two for future funds?!?!) is the downfall of many non-profits.
Being passionate about a cause is great, but I don't think that that quality alone should be a qualifier for board participation.
There is money out there. There are people with time on their hands, as well.
Is the board dedicated enough to find the money and people to continue their services?
It would be a travesty to lose this resource-especially while there is nothing to fill the gap being left behind. Wish I had $$ to donate-who do I contact to help in other ways?
Since you're such an expert on nonprofit operations & fundraising, why don't YOU join their board instead of armchair quarterbacking?
http://www.kcba.org/legalhelp/hjp/client…
p.s., If you are facing eviction, please visit the clinic ASAP. The earlier we speak the better your potential options.
Tenants need as much help as they can get so it is important that the public be made aware of all these other resources available to them.
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