Democratic Socialists of America

Tens of millions around the country have lost their jobs. Even before the pandemic, tenants faced a deep crisis - facing eviction, huge rent increases, and gentrification driven by landlords and real estate capitalists. Today, DSA organizers around the country are fighting harder than ever against an unfolding catastrophe - a wave of evictions, crushing burdens of rent debt, and a government that refuses to provide safe shelter to unhoused people.

This seminar will feature testimonies from a variety of different backgrounds. Attendees will hear from Street Watch organizers in Los Angeles who are occupying vacant hotel rooms to provide shelter to the unhoused. The Stomp Out Slumlords campaign from Metro DC will present on their experiences organizing buildings and rent strikes. Juan Marcano, a DSA City Council member from Aurora, CO., will talk about how socialists have fought to cancel rent and protect tenants in office. Finally, chapters and members will learn about how to participate in the newly-established national DSA Housing Justice Commission.