Independence Towers tenants union receives payout from Fannie Mae; rent strike continues
Federal mortgage organization Fannie Mae issued a $1.35 million payout to tenants at Independence Towers on Friday, as tenants approach week four of what organizers say is the longest-running rent strike in Kansas City history.
At Independence Towers, 63 units are currently occupied, and 68% of those residents are involved in the tenants union. Since early October, 57% of those household have been participating in the rent strike.
Tenants at Independence Towers and Quality Hill Towers embarked on the rent strike together on Oct. 1, citing months - if not years - of serious issues with plumbing and HVAC systems, nonfunctional heat and cooling, flooding, mold, holes in walls and ceilings and infestations of pests.
The building recently experienced its third hot water shutoff since March. Some residents reported receiving shutoff notices earlier this month, alleging that Trigild Inc. had failed to pay the water bill for the whole building.
Across both buildings, tenants have withheld more than $60,000 in rent payments to date.
The payment was announced by the office of U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, Missouri’s 5th Congressional district representative, according to tenants rights organization KC Tenants, under which the tenants union has organized. The $1.3 million in funding will be dedicated to building repairs.
“ Fannie Mae remains committed to supporting ongoing work the Receiver needs to complete until the property has been placed into new ownership,” a Fannie Mae spokesperson shared Friday.
The Independence Towers tenant union described the funding package as both “a major victory for the union” and “a one-off bailout.” Residents will continue to urge Fannie Mae and building management to bargain directly with the union.
“We appreciate Representative Cleaver for having our backs and fighting for accountability from the regulator, Fannie Mae, and our building’s receiver, Trigild, Inc,” tenant union leaders wrote in a statement issued Friday. “While we celebrate this step, we remain committed to our rent strike, which demands structural solutions.”
After touring Independence Towers on Sept. 3, Cleaver expressed serious concern about the state of the building, hinting that he would support a rent strike and pledging to hold Fannie Mae accountable.
“I would have to be mentally ill to say, oh, no, please pay your rent,” Cleaver said in September.
The tenant unions ongoing demands include new ownership and collectively bargained lease agreements, as well as a rent cap on a national level. Independence Towers came under the receivership of national real estate company Trigild Inc. in May after a court order removing the property from former owners FTW Investments and executive Parker Webb.
The Independence Towers and Quality Hill Towers tenant unions plan to re-authorize another strike action on Nov. 1, with tenants expected to withhold November rent payments.
Reporting by The Star’s Noelle Alviz-Gransee was used in this article.
This story was originally published October 25, 2024 at 4:05 PM.
