Housing advocates and tenants prepare for rally for Jenny Lind Hall
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Almost a year later, advocates in Springfield are still voicing their concerns about the living conditions at Jenny Lind Hall. Springfield Tenants Unite, also known as STUN, is a city-wide tenant union that has been advocating for the apartment building since 2024. They are teaming up with residents to take action by [...]
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. -- Almost a year later, advocates in Springfield are still voicing their concerns about the living conditions at Jenny Lind Hall.
Springfield Tenants Unite, also known as STUN, is a city-wide tenant union that has been advocating for the apartment building since 2024. They are teaming up with residents to take action by hosting a rally.
Those who live at Jenny Lind have told OzarksFirst, the city council and property managers that they have gone without the bare minimum for long enough and hope that this upcoming rally will spark a change.
Daniel Belhmann is a member of STUN and says they have been working closely with Jenny Lind residents.
“Only quite recently have we actually gotten 25% of the residents to unionize with us,” Belhmann said. “And this is sort of our chance to stand up and say, 'We're sick of the excuses.'”
On Wednesday night, STUN invited community members to come and make signs and posters for the tenant rally. Rayleah Crockett saw the event on social media and decided to show her support.
“It starts at a small level. It starts at a community level, a local level, and then eventually it brings about change,” Crockett said. “I want to see that for everyone. Honestly, everyone deserves a reasonably priced, sustainable, good place to live.”
The housing complex -- located at 711 South Jefferson -- is tailored towards low-income seniors and those with disabilities but has been without working elevators for the better part of a year.
“They're fed up. They've waited. They've heard the excuses. They've been told time and time again, wait a little bit longer, get this new part,” Belhman said. “They're sick of waiting and they're sick of being scared and they're sick of being alone.”
STUN organizer Alice Barber says that hosting this rally will give people at Jenny Lind the opportunity to share their stories.
“We're seeing tenants all across Springfield coming to us saying this is these are the housing conditions. We live with holes in our walls and floors and animals come in through, mold, all kinds of unsafe conditions,” Barber said.
While the rally is taking place at Jenny Lind Hall, Barber says the message applies to all Springfield renters.
“Just show support for making Springfield a place where everyone, no matter who they are, no matter how much money they make, and no matter whether they're a tenant or a homeowner or where they live, can have a safe, healthy, dignified life no matter what,” Barber said.
The community is invited to take part in the rally next Saturday, Jan. 25th at 1:30 p.m.
You can sign up here.
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