The City of Wilmington’s Autonomous Tenant Union (CWATU) consists of tenants (and allies) who are fed up with rising rents, evictions, disrepair, and harassment at the hands of landlords. CWATU members are fed up with our neighbors having no option but to live unsheltered and at constant risk of police harassment. We want to stop landlords, developers, and cops from looting and exploiting our communities. Our work is focused on collective organization with the primary goal of direct action. Direct action is about making concrete, achievable demands from people who can grant them (i.e. landlords). Membership defense means that tenants do not have to face housing struggles alone, but with the support of the union behind them. A well-organized tenant union can win demands that no individual tenant could win.

CWATU is run by its members. CWATU has a two-part membership structure-a voting membership consisting of tenants, people experiencing homelessness, and a non-voting membership for allied homeowners. We are in the process of establishing our tenant union and ask that you consider joining as a member.  

Landlords, agents of landlords, and police officers are not allowed to become members of CWATU.

Use this form to sign up for a membership. Once you sign up, another member will contact you via email or phone to set up time to talk more about getting involved with CWATU meetings and actions. Please allow for 1-2 weeks for contact, as we're volunteer-led.