UCSB Tenants’ Association Residents Working For Residents Since 1999
UCSB Tenants’ Association Residents Working For Residents Since 1999
We are a democratic organization that reflects the concerns and needs of FSH residents. We encourage residents to directly contact the Family Student Housing staff or administrators responsible for the issue with which they are dealing. If this contact fails to resolve the issue, we support the resident by making our own queries, seeking to understand the decision that has been made, and making a case for a change in the decision if appropriate. When residents feel a policy or rule is unfair, we support them by bringing the issue to housing administration and seeking a change in policy when such changes would benefit many residents without placing a new burden on others. While any policy or rule is in our current contract and/or handbook, we do not endorse the breaking of that rule.The purpose of the FSH Tenants’ Association is to represent the needs of residents to University and non-University organizations and individuals, and to assist residents for whom the University system or process has not been effective. (as stated in our Bylaws )
The Tenants’ Association was founded by residents of FSH who recognized a need for residents to have formal input into housing related issues. The formation of an Association allows Housing staff and administration an avenue by which they can get the resident input they have been seeking while giving residents an advocate/liaison when they need help navigating the Family Student Housing system.
These residents notified each FSH household of an organizational meeting held in November 1999. At this meeting, an Interim Board was elected and charged with the following urgent issues:
An election was held in February 2000 to enable all FSH residents to vote on the formation of this Association, the payment of an annual Association fee, and the election of officers of the Board. The procedures for this election are explained below.
Since 2010 elections have been held online in accordance with section IV of the Bylaws. Download the Bylaws for details. Click here for the TA Board elections site
In general one or more of the Association Board members do each of the following:
Attend meetings with Housing administration
Organize and attend monthly Association Board meetings
Answer the questions of residents (including researching the issue/question if necessary)
Research and act upon policy issues of concern to residents–this includes phone calls, e-mails, letter writing and meetings as well as reviewing current policy, past policy, the policies of other UC campuses, etc..
Represent residents at the meetings of various other committees dealing with housing policy (i.e. residency limitations)
Recruit residents to volunteer to serve on Housing committees
Represent the viewpoint of residents when housing staff and administration have questions about the impact of policy changes, ideas for new programs, etc.
Create and distribute a newsletter
Organize and hold resident committee meetings as needed (i.e. children’s issues/playground committee, parking committee, safety committee, etc.)
Organize and hold one General Membership meeting (for all residents) once per quarter. (No meeting is held in the summer.)
Post flyers (which includes coordinating block captains) as needed to keep residents informed
Send updates and important information via e-mail to residents who have signed up for the Tenants’ Association E-group[/expand]
Each student household at FSH pays an annual Association fee of $36.00 ($3.00 per month). You can get a copy of our budget for a more detailed explanation of our expenses. In general, a portion of the Association’s income is set aside in a contingency fund as well as a fund to provide reimbursements for residents who leave prior to the end of the year. There is also a fund for office supplies, newsletter expenses, and operating expenses (e.g. photocopying).
The largest portion of the account is spent to provide stipends for Association Board members. Because everyone living in FSH is a student or married to a student, our incomes are limited. Many residents have part time or full time jobs. It is unlikely that anyone can afford to volunteer the many hours it takes to be a Board member while still working one or two other jobs to support their family. A stipend allows Board members to give up a part of their work in order to work for FSH residents. Although the stipends are not equal to the amount a Board member might make out in the “real world”, those who are motivated to devote their time to improving our community have found it worthwhile.
From the TA bylaws:
Section II. Members/Membership
A. 1. Membership in the FSH Tenants’ Association is open to all residents of FSH who have signed a FSH contract and none of their house hold members earn $200 per month in salary and/or compensation from Housing and Residential Services.
2. A household whose member/members earn $200 or more per month in salary and/or compensation from Housing and Residential Services are not FSH Tenants’ Association members.
3. Housing and Residential Services employees and their household members earning less than $200 per month in salary and/or compensation from Housing and Residential Services are voting-only members of the TA, but cannot serve on the TA board.
4. Should a resident of FSH or a member of their household cease employment with Housing and Residential Services, they will be eligible for a full TA membership.
Any resident who has signed a current contract with FSH and neither the resident nor any of his/her household members are not employed by Housing can submit a statement of candidacy and run for a Board position.
UCSB Tenants’ Association