Action Alert: Speak Out for Rent Stabilization & Access to Counsel

Written by

Mass Union

in

Two critical issues for renters are currently being considered by the State Legislature. We need you to reach out to your legislators today to urge them to prioritize the needs of struggling renters.

Rent Stabilization

While public housing tenants are fortunate to have controlled rents, tenants in the private market are not so lucky. We all have friends and family in the private market, where we know that rents can double overnight. Activists across Massachusetts have been working tirelessly to put rent stabilization (also called rent control) on the ballot in November. But the State Legislature has until July 1 to take decisive action and implement this protection for renters now.

Access to Counsel

Mass Union has long been a supporter of Access to Counsel, which ensures that tenants facing eviction have the legal representation they need. The state’s investment in Access to Counsel in evictions is making a difference in people’s lives: in 2025, the Access to Counsel program opened 1,192 cases, and in 87% of the cases closed tenants stayed housed or received time to find new housing. The FY27 state budget is now before the Conference Committee. Access to Counsel (ATC) is included in the House Budget for $3 million, but not in the Senate Budget. We need to hold onto the full $3 million for FY27 so tenants can have a fighting change in eviction proceedings.

Take Action

  1. Find your Representative and Senator: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
  2. Call your legislators and ask them to support rent stabilization and access to counsel. You can use the script below, but make sure to include any insights or stories of your own!
    • My name is ____ and I live at ___[street address]___ in __ [city or town]__.
    • I am calling today to voice my support for both rent stabilization and full funding for access to counsel. I urge you to prioritize the needs of struggling renters by taking action on these issues.
    • I support common sense rent stabilization and urge the legislature to take action before July 1 to pass a compromise. I support rent stabilization because ____________.
    • As a tenant, I’ve also seen how the state’s investment in Access to Counsel in evictions is making a difference in people’s lives. [Add a story of your own, if relevant]. Please stop unnecessary evictions and the cascade of harmful effects that evictions are causing people in our communities and adopt the Access to Counsel House Line Item 0321-1800 for $3 million.
  3. Email your legislators and ask them to support rent stabilization and access to counsel. You can use the sample email below, but make sure to include any insights or stories of your own!
    • Subject line: Urgent Action Needed on Rent Stabilization and Access to Counsel
    • Dear Representative / Senator _____________,
    • My name is ____ and I live at ___[street address]___ in __ [city or town]__.
    • I am writing to voice my support for rent stabilization and access to counsel, which will both provide important protection for renters in our community. 
    • We are in a severe housing affordability crisis. Skyrocketing rent increases are making it impossible for families, young people, and older adults to remain in their communities and plan for their futures. Without predictable rents, tenants struggle to maintain stability, children are displaced from schools, and our communities lose the diversity that makes them strong. We need your leadership to keep rent increases stable and protect vulnerable tenants from displacement. 
    • I support rent stabilization because ____[add your personal experience here]________. I urge the legislature to take action before July 1 to pass a compromise on rent stabilization. 
    • As a tenant, I’ve also seen how the state’s investment in Access to Counsel in evictions is making a difference in people’s lives. [Add a story of your own, if relevant]. Please stop unnecessary evictions and the cascade of harmful effects that evictions are causing people in our communities and adopt the Access to Counsel House Line Item 0321-1800 for $3 million.
    • Sincerely, [your name]
  4. Send a letter directly to the FY27 Budget Conference Committee and Leadership urging them to include $3 Million for the Access to Counsel line item (0321-1800) as provided by the House. Use these emails. You can use the sample paragraph below, but make sure to include any insights or stories of your own!
    • We ask the Conference Committee to adopt the Access to Counsel in Evictions House Line Item 0321-1800 which provides $3 million for the continued start-up of a statewide Access to Counsel in evictions program. The state’s investment in Access to Counsel in evictions is without question making a difference in people’s lives. In 2025, the Access to Counsel program opened 1,192 cases, and in 87% of the cases closed tenants stayed housed or received time to find new housing. Stop unnecessary evictions and the cascade of harmful effects that evictions are causing people in our communities – adopt the Access to Counsel House Line Item 0321-1800 for $3 million.

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