‘Renters’ Rodeo’ in Missoula Hopes to Raise Funds

Missoula, MT (KGVO-AM News) - Just over half of Missoula residents are renters, and as of 2022, that equals over 16,000 individuals or families living in rented homes, apartments, condos, and mobile homes.

So, who speaks for nearly half of Missoula’s population who rent?

I spoke with Nolan Fry, Press Officer with the Missoula Tenants Union about his organization and about a special event they have planned to bring renters together for some fun and information sharing.

“The Missoula Tenants Union started in the summer of 2021,” began Fry. “I got the ball rolling on that one when I was having some issues with my landlord. They were raising the rent on everybody in my apartment complex and weren't fixing any issues. So, without knowing anything about organizing, I started working with my neighbors, started throwing stuff up online, throwing little meetings at the library, and eventually, after a couple of months, had a bunch of people who had been involved with organizing who were more involved with the community. They started jumping in and helping out, and it just has taken off.”

Fry said the organization started small, with some baby steps towards advocacy.

“In the beginning, it was mainly just saying, ‘Hey, we're here for you, and we're trying to get things done’,” he said. “We actually helped a lot of people, if they were dealing with evictions and we helped them move out, or we would help them find legal services. We would actually work with MLSA (Montana Legal Services Association) pretty often, and they helped a few people manage to stay in their places or get set up with new ones.”

Fry said the owners and administrators of large apartment complexes are the most difficult to deal with.

“They are absolutely not cooperating,” he said. “We've actually tried organizing some apartment complexes and trailer courts, and with one of them, we actually got the ball rolling there and got some got some things happening. We got a lot of stuff repaired, but that only lasted for a couple of months, and then they started to slide back. So what we've noticed with that is we have to keep the pressure on them if we want to continue to see good changes for renters.”

Fry provided details of the ‘Renters Rodeo’ event coming up in early December.

“The renters' rodeo is going to be Friday, December 6, starting at 5:00 p.m. and that's going to be at the American Legion at 825 Ronan Street, and that'll go till about midnight. We've done other get-togethers in the past. I remember one year when we had a Halloween party that was one of the best parties I've ever been to, and it went off without a hitch. I'm kind of expecting the same thing here, like food, and drinks, including alcoholic drinks. I'm going to be bartending at one point. There's going to be a band, and we're also making T-shirts. We're going to have some official T-shirts. You're probably going to start seeing some bright orange T-shirts soon with our logo on them.”

Click here for details about the Missoula Tenants Union.