This episode of Econo-Mía, entirely in Spanish, showcases Ms. Eloiza Chamorro and how all the tenants living in an apartment building in Columbia Heights bettered their living conditions by organizing and learning their rights as tenants. 

In this episode, you will meet Gustavo Vargas, one of LEDC's Tenant Organizers, and Ms. Eloiza Chamorro, tenant of building 1454 Irving Street NW in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of Washington, D.C.

Eloiza has been living in this building since 1976. For years, she complained to the owner about the building's deplorable living conditions without any results. Eloiza proceeded to contact LEDC's Tenant Organizing Team in Washington, D.C., who provided further education and resources to Eloiza, aiding her in her mission to better her living conditions in a building she had lived in for over 45 years.

As the President of the Tenants Association of the Building, Eloiza organized all her neighbors per LEDC's suggestion. After a year and a half of court battles between the tenants and the building owner, the judge ruled in favor of the building's Tenant Association and Ms. Chamorro. The judge demanded the owner's apartment upgrades to appropriate living standards and did not allow additional rent increases on the tenants of 1454 Irving Street NW.

Eloiza is thankful for LEDC's help and tells other tenants with similar living conditions to learn their rights, organize, and not give up until the owner improves their building and its rental units.  

LEDC facilitates technical assistance for tenants in all the areas it serves by providing access to information resources and comprehensive tenant rights education based on county or city regulations. For more information on these services and to connect with a Tenant Organizer at LEDC, please access LEDC - Housing Resources or call and leave a message at 202-540-7439. Please provide more details about your living conditions and other issues your neighbors face in the voice message.