Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO)

Tenants stabilization:tenants stabilization includes three sub-progams. Each program is designed to educate and assist individual Tenants to stabilize their rental housing situation. Mto's Tenants rights hotline serves between 8,000 and 10,000 renters annually. Staff and volunteer hotline counselors provide callers with information to help them resolve existing housing crises. Counselors provide Tenants with verbal information and then send them written documentation. Mto provides Tenants with 11 different brochures covering all areas of rental housing. Mto aslo has 15 sample letters Tenants can use to help them follow the law and communicate with their landlord. Mto's eviction prevention partnership with the lawyers committee for better housing

Advocacy program:the advocacy program is currently working to secure passage of three housing laws. Mto empowers members to participate in coalitions, meet with the alderman and develop campaigns. Currently, mto is working to secure the passage of chicago healthy homes inspection program (chhip), the housing for all campaign and the just housing initiative (jhi). Mto supports lifting the ban on rent control. Chhip works to develop a proactive inspection program for the city of chicago. Housing for all seeks to expand chicago's aro ordinance by increasing the number of affordable housing units being built. Jhi will limit the use of criminal background checks for Tenants seeking apartments in cook county.

Affordable housing prevention program (ahpp):through ahpp, the Organization attempts to reverse deteriorating conditions of subsidized and privately owned rental stock and to hold landlords accountable for mistreatment and unfair policies. Ahpp helps Tenants to form Tenants associations and provides self-help tools to Tenants that build the capacity of Tenants and community leaders to initiate repairs and be proactive about housing conditions in their community.