LANDLORD-TENANT RELATIONS;

LANDLORD - TENANT RELATIONSHIP;

You asked (1) about the Hartford Tenants Rights Federation, Inc. , (2) if a person who is director of a housing project can manage the Federation, and (3) if other cities have a similar tenants rights organization?

HARTFORD TENANTS RIGHTS FEDERATION

The Hartford Tenants Rights Federation, Inc (HTRF) represents the tenants of each of Hartford’s 12 public housing developments. HTRF works with the Hartford Housing Authority and other entities to ensure that tenants’ concerns are addressed. The tenants from each development elect four members to the HTRF board, which is led by a president, vice president, and treasurer. HTRF hires an executive director. Lucinda Thomas has held that position for 30 years.

Only tenants may participate in the organization, which was founded in 1969. A housing development’s director, a housing authority employee, could not be executive director, according to Thomas.

HTRF is an independent entity, which has registered with the Secretary of State’s Office, making it eligible to receive and administer outside funds, according to Thomas. In 2000, HTRF; its subsidiary, Public Housing Residents Going Places; and South Arsenal Neighborhood Development Corporation obtained a grant from the city of Hartford as well as federal economic development grant to build a grocery store in North Hartford (at Main and Pavillon streets), according to the Hartford Courant. The ground breaking should take place in August 2003, Thomas said.

OTHER CITIES

We contacted the housing authorities in East Hartford, New Britain, New London, and Stamford about tenants’ rights organizations. East Hartford does not have a centralized organization or one for each development, but the Housing Authority said it is working to create one for each. New London does not have a centralized tenants’ rights organization, but does have an organization at each development. Stamford has organizations at each development, a centralized organization for tenants of federal housing, and a new city-wide organization representing all public housing.

New Britain’s Housing Authority did not respond in time for this report.

JRH: eh