Tenant Stories
We are interviewing Springfieldians who have faced issues in securing housing due to evictions, income-based barriers, poor credit, and other restrictions. Knowing our neighbors and their stories forges solidarity and makes us stronger. We hope that you will share yours and join our cause!
Security, Dignity, & Survival: Persistence Through Adversity
JAI’s story
Jai Byrd knows all too well the precarious nature of housing, a reality they’ve faced for much of their life. Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jai’s first experience with instability came early. Their father purchased a home hoping to create a stable environment, but a contractor’s embezzlement forced the family into bankruptcy. From that point on, homeownership was tinged with distrust for Jai.
“Looking back, it angers me,” Jai reflects. “I cannot see homeownership in my future with how my life had turned out and the way the system is set up for certain people to be able to own a house.”
After their father’s bankruptcy, Jai’s family moved into a rental for several years, beginning a cycle of instability that would creep into adulthood. They graduated high school and moved to Missouri to attend College of the Ozarks, where they lived in the dorms and worked on campus as a part of the “tuition-free” perk that came with attending that particular school. Unfortunately, their sibling had escaped a domestic violence situation, which led them to return to Ohio and prevented them from finishing their degree.
During 2007, Jai had moved into a rental, and everything seemed to be going well until their utility bill unexpectedly surged to an astonishing $3,000 in one month. Unable to pay the bill, Jai was forced to declare bankruptcy and move back to Branson, Missouri, where they worked at the Christian summer camp they went to when they were younger.
In 2010, they moved into a halfway house, sharing a space with six other men and paying a minimal rent of $100 a month. However, living in this halfway house came at a cost beyond finances, as Jai was expected to be on call 24/7 doing odd jobs at random hours of the day. Jai would continue living like this for eight months, unable to build a true life for themselves. They felt trapped, maybe even doomed to this kind of nauseating existence of having no sense of free time or leisure.
Jai Byrd knows all too well the precarious nature of housing, a reality they’ve faced for much of their life. Growing up in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jai’s first experience with instability came early. Their father purchased a home hoping to create a stable environment, but a contractor’s embezzlement forced the family into bankruptcy. From that point on, homeownership was tinged with distrust for Jai.
“Looking back, it angers me,” Jai reflects. “I cannot see homeownership in my future with how my life had turned out and the way the system is set up for certain people to be able to own a house.”
After their father’s bankruptcy, Jai’s family moved into a rental for several years, beginning a cycle of instability that would creep into adulthood. They graduated high school and moved to Missouri to attend College of the Ozarks, where they lived in the dorms and worked on campus as a part of the “tuition-free” perk that came with attending that particular school. Unfortunately, their sibling had escaped a domestic violence situation, which led them to return to Ohio and prevented them from finishing their degree.
During 2007, Jai had moved into a rental, and everything seemed to be going well until their utility bill unexpectedly surged to an astonishing $3,000 in one month. Unable to pay the bill, Jai was forced to declare bankruptcy and move back to Branson, Missouri, where they worked at the Christian summer camp they went to when they were younger.
In 2010, they moved into a halfway house, sharing a space with six other men and paying a minimal rent of $100 a month. However, living in this halfway house came at a cost beyond finances, as Jai was expected to be on call 24/7 doing odd jobs at random hours of the day. Jai would continue living like this for eight months, unable to build a true life for themselves. They felt trapped, maybe even doomed to this kind of nauseating existence of having no sense of free time or leisure.
Despite years of financial and emotional hardship, Jai eventually married and tried to build a stable family life. They moved to Springfield, Missouri, with their spouse, Grace, in 2012, and bought a house in 2016. However, due to their earlier bankruptcy and poor credit, Jai’s name couldn’t be put on the deed. The house, symbolizing a fresh start, soon became a source of tension. As their marriage faltered, Jai was left struggling again to find their place in the world.
After the breakdown of their marriage, Jai was met with another dilemma — homelessness.
“Since then, I’ve couch-surfed, lived in cars, and made ends meet living on the fly,” Jai recalls. “Why do people have to work so hard just to live to tomorrow?” Jai's frustration with the broken housing system only deepened. They questioned why basic needs, like affordable and safe housing, were so out of reach for working-class people.
In 2021, Jai decided he had to do something about their situation and joined Springfield Tenants Unite, a local tenant organizing group focused on housing justice. For Jai, it was a lifeline. The housing challenges they had faced — denial of rentals due to credit issues, the struggle to meet income requirements, and living in substandard conditions — had lit a fire inside them to fight for something greater than just their own housing security.
Working with STUN gave Jai a sense of purpose. They threw themselves into the movement, contributing in a multitude of ways. From building a base of working-class tenants to helping organize data and advocating for transformative justice, Jai has become a cornerstone of the organization.
“Any win the tenants win is a huge win,” Jai says. Despite the challenges they continue to face as a working homeless person, Jai firmly believes in the power of collective action.
During the year 2023, Jai was instrumental in overturning House Bill 1606 in the case Byrd vs. State of Missouri, as it was significantly altered during the legislative process to include Section 67.2300, which imposes restrictions on state funds for the homeless and forbids unauthorized camping on state-owned land. This addition violated the Missouri Constitution’s single-subject rule, which prohibits bills from covering more than one topic and requires the title to clearly express its content. After a legal challenge, the Missouri Supreme Court ruled the inclusion of that section was unconstitutional and invalidated the statute.
Through their work with STUN, Jai is helping to create a future where housing is a right, not a privilege, and where others won’t have to face the hardships they have endured and work tirelessly just to survive. Their story serves as both a testament to the strength of the human spirit and a reminder that housing justice is not just an individual issue, but a collective one.
Jai’s resilience in the face of adversity is what defines them. While they may not yet have found the stable home they’ve long sought, they’ve found a way to turn their struggles into a powerful force for change.
“Housing isn’t just a place to live — it’s security. It’s dignity. And it’s survival. We all deserve that.”
Jami’s Story
“We Shall Not Be Moved”: The Fight for Cedarwood & Rosewood Tenants
Jami Johnson has spent her life fighting for dignity in a world that often seems to forget people like her. Born with spinal muscular dystrophy and diagnosed at age four, doctors said she wouldn’t live beyond five. But Jami defied the odds. She walked until she was 15, though every step was a struggle.
“I was miserable,” she recalls. “It wasn’t until I received my first wheelchair that I felt real freedom — a feeling that walking had never given me.”
In 1988, she left her parents' house for a dorm at Southwest Baptist University, seeking independence despite the challenges. A year later, she moved into an apartment in Willard and began classes at Missouri State University. Then in 1999, Jami finally found a place she could make her own — a two-bedroom, handicap-accessible apartment at Hunter’s Glen after being on the Springfield Housing Authority’s waiting list. Her friends came together to help her secure the deposit, and for nearly a decade, she made that apartment her home.
By 2008, Jami moved into Rosewood Estates, a modest home owned by Wilhoit Properties. It wasn’t fully accessible — the stovetop burners were too far, and there was no walk-in shower — but with help from friends and family, she made it work.
She took pride in her space, decorating the patio, trimming the hedges, and forming deep bonds with neighbors. For 17 years, it was home. Then, in 2024, everything changed.
A Vision Worth Fighting For
Rosewood was purchased by landlords Mitchell and Amanda Jenkins and switched management to Bryan Properties. With this change of hands, the new owners announced plans to convert the homes into luxury 55+ housing with rents starting at $2,600 — far beyond what Jami and her neighbors could afford.
“This whole process had been frustrating because Wilhoit didn’t tell us anything,” Jami declared. “They sent a note out to all of us, saying people would be inspecting our homes — they weren’t very clear as to why. But I suspected they were in the process of selling our homes to a new owner.”
The fear of displacement loomed. “Who would pay for that? Who would help me move?” she asked, her voice tarnished with worry and agitation. But Jami held onto a vision: not just keeping her home, but protecting a community.
“We want to negotiate prolonged housing agreements with our landlord, Bryan Properties, and ensure that our homes aren’t turned into luxury developments that price us out.”
The Policy Failure Behind the Crisis
Jami’s story is part of a larger housing crisis. Her home was built under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program, which restricts rent for a period. When that ends, affordability often disappears, and tenants are left scrambling.
Shortly after the sale, tenants received notices to vacate without explanation. Some found new places — smaller, more expensive, and less accessible — while most were unsuccessful, despite submitting multiple applications and paying steep fees.
Jami’s most essential equipment, like her ceiling lift, would be nearly impossible to reinstall elsewhere.
Power in Community: Organizing for Survival
Jami learned from her neighbor, Ramona, that tenants at nearby Cedarwood Terrace were facing the same struggle, but they were fighting back. With support from Springfield Tenants Unite (STUN), they discovered the evictions were unlawful: LIHTC guidelines require three years of tenant protection after the program ends.
Armed with that knowledge, Jami joined forces with tenants from both properties. Together, they filed complaints, held meetings, knocked on doors, and launched a campaign. The Missouri Housing Development Commission (MHDC) ruled that the evictions violated LIHTC terms. Tenants now have temporary protection until July 2026.
They kept going, forming majority tenant unions at both properties. Over 60% signed on to a joint demand letter. The message was clear: come to the table.
Why She Organizes with STUN: A Hopeful Future
In May 2025, tenants escalated the fight. Renters at both Cedarwood Terrace and Rosewood Estates filed a class-action lawsuit against the current and former owners, accusing them of failing to properly notify tenants before opting out of LIHTC requirements. The suit alleges that unlawful lease changes, steep rent increases, and pressure to vacate caused financial and emotional harm. Plaintiffs are seeking damages, the reversal of certain lease practices, and full enforcement of their rights under Missouri housing law. The legal action adds urgency — and public visibility — to the tenants' long-standing demands for justice.
Jami understands the stakes — not just for herself, but for the thousands of tenants in Springfield at risk of losing affordable homes.
"Your story matters," she tells people. “I have said this often, especially as a person from the disability advocacy world, but it applies to the fight for housing justice.”
Through STUN, Jami has found strength in numbers. She’s no longer alone — and she’s leading the charge. Because for her, survival isn’t just enduring. It’s about pushing back, organizing forward, and believing that everyone deserves a place to call home.