MTMissoula Tenants Union
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About Missoula Tenants Union
Missoula Tenants Union starts with a simple idea: renters do not have to face housing problems alone. It helps tenants organize building-level unions, canvass neighborhoods, and learn the skills to push for secure, affordable, and decent housing in Missoula and Western Montana. For donors, the appeal is in that shift from isolated frustration to collective action.
Missoula Tenants Union is not a direct service provider. It is a renter-led union that builds power through tenant organizing, door-to-door outreach, education, and policy advocacy, from individual buildings to statewide campaigns.
Programs
The concrete work this nonprofit runs. Each program may later become a fundable project.
Building Organizing
Helps tenants form building-level unions to collectively advocate for better conditions, fair treatment, repairs, fair rents, and accountability.
Renter Survey / Front Step
Door-to-door canvassing to hear directly from renters, gather data, and build relationships across Missoula neighborhoods.
Right to Counsel
Advocates for legislation that would guarantee every tenant facing eviction access to legal representation.
Tenant Skill-Building + Training
Workshops and tenant rights education that build knowledge and power, including training on public comment at local legislative meetings.
Tenant Resources
Organizing toolkit, housing navigation resources, know-your-rights information, and links to outside tenant resources.
UNU, Repeal 12.60
State-level advocacy through United Neighbors United to fight unjust housing policy and repeal harmful legislation.
About this work
Mission
The Missoula Tenants Union is dedicated to advocating for and building solidarity among tenants, in order to create collective power and fight for access to secure, affordable, and decent housing options for the renting population of Missoula and Western Montana.
Who they serve
Tenants and renters in Missoula and Western Montana, including renters organizing their buildings and tenants facing housing instability or eviction
How your donation helps
- Support canvassing and renter survey outreach
- Support organizing tenants into building-level unions
- Support tenant rights education and training
- Support state-level housing justice advocacy through UNU
Need help?
How someone in need can access Missoula Tenants Union’s services.
Tenants in Missoula who want to organize their building or learn their rights can use the tenant resources pages, fill out the member interest form, attend a meeting, or email missoulatenantsunion@gmail.com. Tenants facing eviction are directed to montanalawhelp.org or the Missoula Self Help Law Center.
In their words
We organize, we fight, and we win together.
We believe that those closest to the problem are closest to the solution, and that justice does not trickle down, it grows up.
In the news
Recent independent coverage of this organization.
- Missoula mobile home park residents unionize after rent hike | Newsbozemandailychronicle.com · 4/22/2026Residents of Katoonah Lodges Mobile Home Park in Missoula formed a tenants union with help from the Missoula Tenants Union after new out-of-state owners imposed rent increases. The article quotes a Missoula Tenants Union organizer describing solidarity with other recently unionized Missoula trailer parks.
- Missoula Tenants Union forms amid housing crisiskpax.comThe article reports that tenants in Missoula are forming the Missoula Tenants Union amid rising rental costs and fears of eviction. It describes the union’s early focus on providing access to legal services, collecting dues for a future mutual aid fund, and pursuing goals such as rent-increase caps and regulation of short-term rentals.
- Missoula’s Travois Village residents form a supermajority tenants’ unionkpax.comResidents of Travois Village in Missoula formed a supermajority tenants’ union through the Missoula Tenants Union to oppose rent hikes after the park was bought by Oak Wood Properties. The story describes membership size, specific rent increase attempts, the union’s demands, and reactions from residents and the property owner’s representative.
- Residents of Missoula area mobile home parks unionize, join effort to limit rent increasesmontanafreepress.orgThe article describes residents in Missoula-area mobile home parks unionizing after rent increases following a property purchase, including residents affected at Harvey’s mobile home park in Bonner. It includes statements from a long-time resident about rent hikes and their impact on fixed-income and elderly neighbors.
- Mobile home park tenants launch union to fight rent hikesmontanafreepress.orgThe article describes how Missoula Tenants Union helped Travois Village residents form a supermajority tenants union to oppose proposed rent hikes. It also outlines the union’s demands and the rent increase reduction reported after residents sent demand letters.
Ways to help
Concrete needs and volunteer roles Missoula Tenants Union has shared.
Current needs
- Canvassing volunteers
Volunteer opportunities
- Canvass door-to-door with the Front Step crew
- Help tenants organize a building-level union
- Support campaign meetings and organizing efforts
Recognition & press
In the media
- KPAX, Missoula Tenants Union forms amid housing crisis
- Montana Free Press, Tenants union marks first year in Missoula, looks to provide further protection for renters
- KPAX, Missoula trailer park residents form tenants union
- KPAX, Missoula’s Travois Village residents form a supermajority tenants’ union
- NBC Montana, Missoula mobile home tenants form union in fight against rent hikes
- Montana Free Press, Mobile home park tenants launch union to fight rent hikes
- Montana Free Press, Residents of Missoula area mobile home parks unionize, join effort to limit rent increases
- KPAX, Missoula mobile home residents form second tenants’ union amid rent disputes
- Montana Free Press, Nonprofit to survey renters, use data to combat housing insecurity
Press & mentions
Partners & funders
In the news
Articles featuring Missoula Tenants Union from the Love What You Fund newsroom.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about this nonprofit and how its work happens.
How does MTU help tenants organize a building-level union?
MTU walks tenants through the process, starting with early conversations with neighbors and continuing through formal talks with property management. The goal is straightforward: better conditions, fair treatment, repairs, fair rents, and accountability.
What is the Renter Survey / Front Step used for?
It is a door-to-door canvassing effort that lets MTU hear directly from renters, gather data, and build the relationships that shape campaigns.
What should a tenant facing eviction do?
MTU points tenants to montanalawhelp.org or the Missoula Self Help Law Center while it works to advocate for Right to Counsel.
How can someone get involved without becoming a member?
People can volunteer for canvassing, attend meetings, and help with organizing campaigns.