Tenant Union Representative Network

Name

Tenant Union Representative Network

Legal name

Tenant Union Representative Network

Website

https://rturn.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tenant Advocacy Services

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Residential Lease Administration & Tenant Services (BPAJAFAL)

Keywords

• Tenant advocacy services
• Housing rights education
• Tenant counseling
• Eviction defense assistance
• Community housing organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Philadelphia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Foundation Grants and Sponsorships: TURN receives funding from foundations including Oak Foundation, William Penn Foundation, and US Department of Housing and Urban Development to support its tenant advocacy programs.
2. Service Fees: Nominal fees charged for specific services such as landlord/property background checks ($10) to help tenants make informed housing decisions.
3. Donations: TURN accepts donations through PayPal to support its mission of housing as a human right.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN) is a Philadelphia-based tenant service and advocacy nonprofit providing free tenant rights education, individual counseling, eviction defense preparation, repair rights guidance, and housing inspections to renters. The organization also operates the Philly Tenant Hotline, conducts landlord-tenant webinars and clinics via Zoom, sells landlord/property background checks for a nominal $10 fee, and runs the TURN Network—a city-wide union of renters organized to advocate for housing as a human right.

Product overview

Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN) is a tenant service and advocacy organization offering a suite of housing-related services in Philadelphia. The core offerings include: Housing Inspections and Property Background Checks for prospective tenants and landlords; Legal Support Services including an Eviction Defense Clinic, Repair Clinic, and Right to Counsel for qualifying low-income tenants; Educational Programs such as Landlord-Tenant Webinars and Renters Rights Workshops conducted via Zoom; and the TURN Network, a tenant union for collective advocacy and organizing. Services are free or low-cost counseling with no income restrictions for general counseling, designed to help Philadelphians access safe, decent, and affordable housing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Housing Inspection Affordable housing inspections for landlords and discounted inspections for tenants, providing 8-page reports identifying needed repairs and checking for lead paint hazards. Intended for Philadelphia landlords and renters to ensure safe, decent housing conditions.
• Landlord/Property Background Check Provides objective information about landlords and properties for a $10 fee, including owner's name, license history, eviction records, liens, foreclosures, and lead inspections with a risk rating. Intended for prospective Philadelphia tenants researching a rental before signing a lease.
• Eviction Defense Clinic Prepares tenants for court hearings by reviewing the court process and defenses tenants may have. Held every Tuesday at 6pm via Zoom. Intended for Philadelphia tenants facing eviction.
• Landlord-Tenant Webinars Educational webinars conducted in-person and via Zoom explaining landlord-tenant issues, with Q&A sessions with attorneys and housing counselors. Intended for Philadelphia tenants and community members seeking housing rights education.
• Repair Clinic Educational sessions about tenant rights regarding repairs and follow-up steps, conducted every Thursday at 6pm via Zoom. Intended for Philadelphia tenants dealing with repair issues in their rental units.
• Right to Counsel Free legal representation for low-income tenants in zip codes 19121 and 19139 facing eviction or housing subsidy termination, launched February 1, 2022. TURN staffs the hotline at 267-443-2500 connecting qualifying tenants to attorneys under Philadelphia's Right to Counsel program.
• TURN Network A union of Philadelphia renters who advocate for housing as a human right, supporting each other in improving housing quality and landlord relationships through organizing, government engagement, and education. Intended for Philadelphia renters who want to collectively advocate for housing rights.
• Renters Rights Webinar Free renters rights workshops offered weekday at 12:30pm, evenings at 6pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 11am. Intended for Philadelphia tenants seeking to learn about their housing rights.

Quantifiable outcome

• Right to Counsel launched in Philadelphia on February 1, 2022, providing free legal representation to eligible low-income tenants in eviction cases

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Right to Counsel InitiativecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2022Partnership providing free legal representation to low-income tenants in zip codes 19121 and 19139 facing eviction or housing subsidy termination. TURN staffs the hotline connecting tenants to this service.
• Energy Coordinating Agency Of PhiladelphiaminorOthersReferral partner for tenants needing utility assistance; TURN refers callers to this agency at 215-988-0929.
• Community Legal Services (CLS)minorOthersTURN refers tenants without phone access to CLS for screening for legal services, particularly for eviction cases.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Metropolitan Tenants Organization: Chicago-based tenant advocacy organization offering tenant hotline assistance, counseling, organizing, and policy advocacy for renters. Directly comparable to TURN in mission and service mix (hotline, counseling, organizing), serving as a same-category single-city model.
• Housing Justice for All: New York statewide tenant organizing coalition that emerged from the Housing Justice for All movement. Directly comparable as a tenant organizing and policy advocacy organization with a tenant-union membership model similar to TURN's Network.
• Atlanta Legal Aid Society: Atlanta-based legal aid nonprofit providing free civil legal services including housing and eviction defense for low-income residents. Comparable as a direct-service tenant legal services organization, but with a broader legal-aid portfolio than TURN's tenant-exclusive focus.
• Make the Road New York: NYC-based tenant and immigrant rights nonprofit combining direct legal services, community organizing, and policy advocacy. Directly comparable as a multi-service tenant advocacy organization combining counseling, organizing, and policy work, though focused on New York.
• Community Legal Services of Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based legal aid nonprofit providing free civil legal services to low-income residents, including housing and eviction defense. Directly comparable as a same-city tenant-services organization with overlapping client base and referral relationship.
• Tenants Union of Washington State: Washington State tenant rights nonprofit providing education, counseling, and organizing for renters across the state. Directly comparable to TURN in advocacy-plus-direct-service hybrid model, though operating at state rather than city scope.

Emerging players

• Right to the City Alliance: National alliance of grassroots organizations working on housing, land, and justice issues with member organizations across multiple cities. Comparable as an umbrella tenant and housing-justice organizing body, but operates as a coalition rather than a direct service provider.

Regional players

• Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: Texas-based legal aid nonprofit serving low-income residents across a large multi-county region with housing and tenant defense among its priority areas. Comparable as a tenant-rights direct-service and legal-aid organization, but operating at a regional Southwest scale rather than TURN's single-city model.

Others

• Energy Coordinating Agency of Philadelphia: Philadelphia-based nonprofit providing energy assistance, weatherization, and housing-related services to low-income residents. Comparable as a Philadelphia human-services nonprofit with a referral partnership to TURN; serves overlapping low-income renter clients but focuses on utilities rather than tenant rights.

Broad incumbents

• National Low Income Housing Coalition: National advocacy organization dedicated to achieving socially just public policy that ensures people with the lowest incomes have affordable and decent homes. Comparable as a housing-justice advocacy organization, but focused on federal policy and research rather than direct tenant service delivery.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/turnphilly
• Facebookfacebook.com/turnphilly
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turnphilly
• Instagraminstagram.com/turnphilly?igsh=MXRqc2h4am5uMHBmbw==

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Tenant Union Representative Network