***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
April 13, 2026
Contact: press@massunion.org
(BOSTON, MA) – HUD issued a proposal on February 20, 2026 that would upend their long-standing policy of allowing families with mixed immigration statuses to live together in HUD housing. If enacted, this proposal will force mixed status families to face an impossible choice: separate or lose their housing.
The Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants sees the new HUD proposal for what it is: an attempt to divide our communities and displace our neighbors by scapegoating immigrants for the housing crisis. This proposal raises serious legal and moral concerns and will put tens of thousands of households at risk of losing their homes nationally.
HUD is accepting comments on the proposal through April 21. Public housing tenants across Massachusetts are joining the chorus of voices telling HUD that this proposal is unacceptable. Twelve of Mass Union’s local tenant organizations are submitting comments on behalf of their members, representing thousands of tenants in Boston, Brockton, Cambridge, Chicopee, Fall River, Lowell, Somerville, Springfield, and Quincy.
“This is not about ending poverty. This is about breaking communities – just like ICE is doing. People are already afraid to come together to support each other. It’s just going to get worse,” a Somerville public housing tenant told Mass Union.
“When you live in a housing community like I do, it’s diverse. There are so many good people in public housing that are here just because that’s the only place they can be. This ruling is going to hurt people’s health, hurt their morale,” said Dave Underhill, Fall River public housing tenant and Chair of the Board of the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants.
HUD’s mixed status rule is one of three proposals that aim to dismantle and undermine public housing, which provides permanent, deeply affordable housing for some of the most vulnerable people in society. The other proposals would rescind eviction protections and allow housing authorities to implement work requirements and time limits on tenancies.
Public housing tenants from across Massachusetts will speak out against these attacks on April 16, when they will unite at the State House for Public Housing Day 2026. In addition to telling their stories and urging state legislators to protect public housing from federal attacks, tenants will be advocating for increased funding and staffing for their public housing communities, Access to Counsel for tenants facing eviction, and protection for tenants in communities undergoing redevelopment.
Press can inquire about attending Public Housing Day and speaking with public housing tenants by contacting press@massunion.org.
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The Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants is a nonprofit run by tenants for tenants. Our mission is to build power and voice for tenants so that we may effectively improve public housing in Massachusetts. Founded by public housing residents in 1967 and incorporated in 1971, Mass Union is the oldest statewide public housing tenants’ organization in the nation. massunion.org