Projects

Bedford County Listening Project

The Bedford County Listening Project (BCLP) is a group of neighbors in Shelbyville, TN working towards solutions they believe will make their lives better. We started in 2017 as a small group of people going door to door talking to our neighbors about issues we saw happening in Shelbyville. From that first effort, 250 people filled out a survey that identified landlords and other bad actors who were creating some of the worst housing conditions faced by our neighbors. This led to the start of the community-led campaign called Shelbyville Tenants Organizing for Protections (S.T.O.P.).


Since our start, we have developed a core group of leaders and community members who are anchored by renters and are working to build community power for safe, affordable housing. And just this year, in 2023, we finally won a renter committee through years of planning and organizing. The majority of the members of this official city committee are renters, a win that is the first of its kind in the state. This committee will help us carry more weight on our side when we throw down against local landlords who want to take advantage of us.

Want to get more involved with BLCP?

Bedford County Listening Project Organizer:

Tristan Call, tristan@fight4thesouth.org

bedfordcountylisteningproject@gmail.com

TN4SafeHomes

TN4SafeHomes believes that everyone deserves to raise their families in healthy housing no matter how much money they make.

Landlords, developers and out of touch politicians work together to make housing unaffordable for working people. They make laws at the state level that prevent communities from taking steps toward safer, healthier housing conditions. We know developers and rich politicians shouldn’t be the only ones making plans for our communities. 

We need healthy homes to lead healthy lives, from school to work to relationships. We live here, we raise our kids here, and we deserve to have a say and to STAY. 

By getting other renters to join us from across Tennessee, beginning with small towns and rural communities, we can put pressure on those in power and win the housing we need. And if we can win here, we can win everywhere.

Want to get involved? Sign up at the link below.

TN4SafeHomes Organizers:

Stephanie Isaacs, stephanie@fight4thesouth.org

Emily Cate, emily@fight4thesouth.org

Georgia

We know that Georgia’s hospitals are closing and it’s harder and harder to find doctors. We want healthcare for all, and we want to work together to have healthier communities. We are going to to call 1000 folks in rural Georgia to hear about your needs and build towards this goal. We want to hear from you!

Will you join us in reaching out to our neighbors? Sign up below

Georgia Organizer:

Ryan Richardson, ryan@fight4thesouth.org