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Blocks Clubs Or Tenant Council?

INTRODUCTION

A Block Club and a Tenant Council are basically the same thing. They are both groups who get together for the betterment of their respective neighborhoods. They are both a method of organizing and communicating with residents of an area and are structured basically the same but their concerns are slightly different.

Block Clubs are formed on streets that have single and double homes and small apartment buildings. Their main concerns are safety, crime, and beautification of the neighborhood. Block Clubs can be a group with simple organizational structure such as elected Block Captains with a simple set of rules. Other groups prefer to operate in a more structured manner with bylaws, elected officers, monthly or yearly dues, and follow the general principals of Roberts Rules Of Order.

Tenant Councils are formed with residents of municipal housing and affordable housing projects. They are established to encourage participation by residents, provide them with a voice, and a sense of ownership and to give the residents a means of getting involved. A Tenant Council is usually ten to fifteen tenants in size elected by residents. Meetings are generally held monthly to discuss issues, plan and implement activities, and decide on programs for the residents.

Whatever your group is called, it should register with an official governmental body such as the police, an elected government official and an umbrella organ­ization such as United Neighborhoods, that advocates for neighborhoods.

To further enhance the ability of a Block Club or Tenant Council to be proactive against crime and disorder, groups should seek out crime prevention aids and target hardening training from their local law enforcement agency. Groups that have successfully completed this training are often referred to as Neighborhood Watch Groups.