LARAMIE – In response to an uptick in rent hikes and general complaints from tenants, Rep. Karlee Provenza, D-Laramie, launched a community survey to better understand struggles for those renting in Laramie, as well as across Wyoming.
“I have been hearing heartbreaking stories from community members for over three years at this point,” Provenza wrote in an email to the Boomerang.
“Just yesterday, I spoke with an 81 year-old man who was in tears because his rent was being raised by $200 a month, forcing him to find somewhere else to live. Every week is a new “straw” or heartbreaking story of how a hard-working Wyoming family is facing struggles in renting because they lack basic legal protections.”
Provenza’s news release states that in addition to unjustified rent spikes, she has received complaints about unlivable conditions and unresponsive landlords.
The survey seeks to help better understand the extent of these issues, help protect renters, as well as understand what is working well.
“The survey is intended to identify what problems and positive experiences folks are having that can help direct policy decisions on a local level that will protect community members from unjustified rental conditions,” Provenza wrote.
“Questions range from specifics about what basic needs are being addressed such as a working heater, fire escape routes to responsiveness of [the] landlord, rent, and whether their lease has been followed. I also ask for contact information, though people can answer any question they choose with NA.”
She also stated in her release that while the survey will help shed light on renter issues, “the policies moving forward won’t impact landlords that are already treating our neighbors honestly and with dignity.”
The survey can be found on Provenza’s Facebook page and will be available until Monday, Jan. 15. Once closed, the findings will be shared and reviewed with local and state officials.
“I will be sharing the aggregated data with local and state officials so we can begin having educated discussions about how to protect renters from bad actors who take advantage of our hard-working community members. I won’t know what legislative priorities should exist until I have reviewed results and have had continued discussions with impacted community members,” she wrote.
In the meantime, Provenza shared that help can be found for those who are struggling with renting issues.
“Resources for renters vary based on the issue they are facing. There are a number of federal and state agencies like Housing and Urban Development, Department of Family Services, and Wyoming Legal Aid that can help in different ways,” she wrote. “Perhaps the best place to start is by calling Wyoming 211 so they can get you pointed in the right direction.”
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Rachelle Trujillo is a freelance journalist with the Laramie Boomerang. She currently is a student at the University of Wyoming and has written for the Casper Star-Tribune and The Wyoming Truth, was an assistant editor at the Branding Iron and was an intern for U.S. Sen. John Barrasso in Casper and Washington, D.C. She can be contacted by emailing news@laramieboomerang.com.
