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  • Comment Detail

  • Date: 07/31/23
    First Name: Amelia
    Last Name: Thompson
    Email: amelia.darlynne@gmail.com
    Organization Type: other
    Organization: Bozeman Tenants United + Homes Guarantee Campaign
  • Comment

    My name is Amelia and I am a tenant living in Bozeman Montana. I am a member of Bozeman Tenants United and the Homes Guarantee Campaign. I have lived in Bozeman since 2016 and before that I lived in Big Sky, Montana for four years. Since 2018 my son and I have rented from a LITCH property. In the last 5 years I've watched others in my position (or even more challenging positions) and my neighbors fall victim to exploitation and mistreatment from property owners and property management companies who benefit from financial assistance and these federally backed programs. These properties fall into disrepair, they are not staffed or managed properly, and as a result the tenants are neglected and treated poorly. As soon as I began experiencing neglect from one company, I found ANY possibly way to not be taken advantage of and was lucky to find a newer unit with better property managers. I was LUCKY. I had time and a little savings and am generally healthy. NOT EVERYONE has that privilege. Every day I hear a new story about an old neighbor or a coworker being abused, mistreated, or neglected by property owners. On top of ALL of that, rent goes us EVEN though it should according to the terms of the lease. THIS MUST CHANGE.