Renita Holmes is an American housing activist. She runs consulting practice OUR Homes, specializing in issues related to African-American and inner-city women.

Early life

Holmes was raised by a single mother with 11 children. She was raised in foster care, where she experienced and witnessed abuse. She began a landscaping company as a teenager, later hiring formerly incarcerated women.

Career and activism

Holmes lives in

Little Haiti Little Haiti (, ), is a neighborhood of Miami, Florida, United States. It is known historically as Lemon City, Little River and Edison. It is home to Haitian immigrant residents, as well as residents from the rest of the Caribbean. The area i ...

, Miami, where rent has been raising due to rising sea levels. She calls this climate gentrification, in which the poor are pushed out by the rich for climate reasons. Holmes runs business and property consulting practice OUR Homes and campaigns for housing rights for marginalized communities. She also helps local housing agencies on issues related to African-American and inner-city women. Holmes's work and other activism frequently bring her into conflict with the Miami government and leadership, and has reportedly included physical altercations. In 2016, Holmes was honored by the Miami Commission for risking her life to save a teenager injured by a bullet. In 2020, a video of Holmes hugging a police officer during the

George Floyd protests The George Floyd protests were a series of protests, riots, and demonstrations against police brutality that began in Minneapolis in the United States on May 26, 2020. The protests and civil unrest began in Minneapolis as Reactions to the mu ...

went viral. Holmes is a fellow of Cleo Institute's Empowering Resilient Women program. In 2023, she was named on the

BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...

's '' 100 Women'' list as one of the world's inspiring and influential women.

Personal life

Holmes is a senior living with disabilities. Holmes lost a child to gun violence.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Holmes, Renita Living people Year of birth missing (living people) 21st-century African-American women 21st-century American people Activists from Florida African-American activists American activists with disabilities American housing rights activists Activists from Miami