The Bowling Green Sunrise Movement held a “Renters Rally” at Bowling Green City Hall on Tuesday to advocate for better conditions for local renters.
Three items were included on the movement’s list of demands from the local government. First, adoption of a “tenant bill of rights,” which would limit how landlords can evict their tenants. Second, reformation of courts for cases dealing with evictions and third, a rental assistance fund.
Rachel Fantasia, the Bowling Green hub coordinator for the Sunrise Movement, hoped the event would highlight the challenges that renters face, especially in the midst of COVID-19.
“We’ll make sure that folks during this pandemic are able to receive some of the financial assistance that our federal government is kind of neglecting,” Fantasia said.
Fantasia joined the movement because her family was evicted when she was 10 years old. Because of that, she has felt a strong drive to improve conditions of renters.
According to a pamphlet from the rally, a rental assistance fund would help alleviate rent debt being accrued by renters.
“With this local rental assistance fund, we ask our commissioners to implement a strong program that ensures tenant security in the long-term,” the pamphlet read.