Stand Up With Najee to Stop Eviction, Win Repairs

Najee is a long time tenant leader from Brownsville who organizes with H.O.P.E. When neighbors hold a rally or plan a march, Najee is on the front line holding the banner and leading chants. And now he needs our support to win justice!

For 8 of the 11 years Najee lived in his home, he has had issues with repairs: leaks, vermin, mold, broken windows, and lead paint. In 2020, when the government shut down the economy and Najee lost his sources of income, he decided to act as an example to his community. He went on rent strike to demand cancel rent and long overdue repairs.

Now, 20 months later, Najee needs our support to keep his home and force his slumlord to make real repairs. Najee is raising the powerful Rent Impairing Violation defense in his eviction case. This defense cancels all rent debt for specific repairs deemed 'immediately hazardous' by the city. If the repairs are not corrected within 6 months, the tenant is not required to pay any rent. However, to raise the defense, a tenant must be taken to court for nonpayment of rent and deposit the unpaid rent money with the court. Like so many of us, Najee lost work during the pandemic and does not have thousands of dollars sitting around to leave with the court. That is where we come in!

Najee needs to raise $4,000 before his next court date on November 17th. This money will allow him to raise the rent impairing violation defense, cancel his rent debt, keep his home, and put him in an extremely strong negotiating position to demand repairs from his landlord.

Donate what you can and spread the word! Najee is always there for us, now we need to be there for Najee.