Author: Mass Union

July 26 – OPHVP Resident Coalition and Capacity Building Training

Join us at Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building in Boston, MA on July 26th, 2024 from 9:00am to 5:00pm for an upcoming Public Housing Resident Coalition and Capacity Building Training hosted by the Office of Public and Indian Housing’s Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs (OPHVP). This comprehensive in-person training is designed to equip Public Housing Residents with the knowledge, skills, tools, and capacity to successfully implement resident/tenant participation as required by 24 CFR 964.16.
During the day-long session, participants will work through the processes of forming and implementing effective and sustainable Resident Councils and regional coalitions of public housing residents. Tenant leaders and members of resident organizations will have the opportunity to:
  • Develop knowledge and skills to initiate, strengthen, and/or sustain the capacity of their own Resident Councils
  • Develop knowledge, skills, and networking connections to build and sustain effective regional coalitions of public housing residents
  • Learn how to become more effective advocates through partnerships with their public housing agencies (PHAs) and other community organizations
  • Learn more about the information and tools available in HUD’s Public Housing Resident Organizing and Participation Toolkit 

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of positive change within your community. If you’re interested in participating, please take a moment to complete the registration form here. Your involvement can make a significant impact!

Housing Authority Vacancies 2024

Do you know someone who would make a good board member for your Local Housing Authority? Maybe it’s YOU! Below please see a list of communities where there is a vacancy in the State Appointee seat. If you live in one of these communities, you can apply for the vacant seat at this link.

Here is a quick cheat sheet about Local Housing Authority boards:

IN CITIES

The State Appointee is appointed by the governor

Four board members are appointed by the mayor, including at least one tenant


IN TOWNS

The State Appointee is appointed by the governor

A tenant member is appointed by the selectboard, using the process outlined in this Public Housing Notice

Three board members are elected in a town-wide election

In addition to filling the tenant seats, tenants can run for the board in a town-wide election or be appointed by the governor as the state appointee. There is no limit on how many tenants can serve on the board! Read on below for other updates and most importantly, be sure to enjoy these summer days.

State Appointee Vacancies
Local Housing Authority Boards

The following Local Housing Authorities have an opening for a “State Appointee” on their board. If you live in one of these places, you can apply to join the board! Click here to submit your application, and email info@massunion.org to let us know you have applied. Please also spread the word to others you know in these communities.

1) Amherst

2) Ashburnham

3) Avon

4) Belchertown

5) Brimfield

6) Brookfield

7) Duxbury

8) Franklin County Reg. Housing & Redevelopment II

9) Gardner

10) Great Barrington

11) Hampden

12) Hampshire County Regional

13) Hatfield

14) Holden

15) Holliston

16) Hopkinton

17) Hudson

18) Mattapoisett

19) Maynard

20) Milton

21) Montague

22) Northborough

23) North Brookfield

24) Pepperell

25) Randolph

26) Southbridge

27) Topsfield

28) Templeton

29) Wakefield

30) Ware

31) Wareham

32) Wellfleet

33) Westminster

34) Westwood

35) Williamstown

36) Yarmouth

Network Leader Resources

This page is intended for Network Leaders to access resources specific to their work. However, many of these documents may be of use to residents and outside organizers. Feel free to take our Network Leader Quiz to learn more about LTO regulations in Massachusetts!

Network Leader Quiz

Tenant Participation Funds – $25 Increase Request

On June 7, 2024 new state regulations went into effect. These new regulations include the increase in Tenant Participation Funds from $6/unit/year to $25! That means that after June 7, you can request additional Tenant Participation Funds.

EOHLC has provided this information in Public Housing Notice 2024-07:

“Amended LTO funding is effective June 7, 2024. To receive an increase in funding, LTOs must submit a revised budget for LHA approval that reflects the increase in LTO funding authorized by the revision of 760 CMR 6.09(3)(c). Once an LTO budget is approved by the LHA, the LHA will then disburse the revised LTO funding. The LHA should account for the LTO increase in any budget revision. No action is required if the LTO’s budget would not increase based upon the new per occupied unit funding.”

For example, if your LTO represents 50 units:

    • You should have already received $500 in Tenant Participation Funds.
    • Your new Tenant Participation Funding amount is $1,250 (50 x 25).
    • With your community, create a new budget showing how you will spend the $1,250. See ideas here.
    • Submit the budget to your Housing Authority. Since you already received $500, you will now request $750 additional funds. USE THIS FORM.
    • If need be, show your Housing Authority PHN 2024-07.

Contact us if you encounter problems with this process.

RESOURCES

LTO Budget Template – Must be presented to your community, then the Housing Authority. Your Housing Authority cannot negotiate the amount down.

LTO Budget Template – Midyear Increase Request – Use this form to request funds between June 7, 2024 and the start of your next fiscal year. 

June 14: Webinar on the Tenant Participation Funding Increase

11:30am – 12:30pm

Today, June 7, new state regulations went into effect. These new regulations include the increase in Tenant Participation Funds from $6/unit/year to $25! That means that you can now request additional Tenant Participation Funds. We know many people have questions about this process and about what the funding can be used for, so we are holding a webinar about this topic.

Webinar: Tenant Participation Funding (TPF) Increase
Friday, June 14, 11:30am – 12:30pm

Join Mass Union to review the process for requesting increased Tenant Participation Funds and discuss allowable uses for the funds. See information from EOHLC below, which we will review together.

This webinar will immediately follow a thirty-minute Policy Committee meeting. Join us at 11am for brief policy updates, and then stick around for the discussion about Tenant Participation Funds at 11:30. Both will be on the Zoom link below.

Zoom Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9679537651
Phone: 301.715.8592; ID: 967 953 7651

If you cannot attend the webinar, our staff are also available to answer questions about Tenant Participation Funding. Reach out to info@massunion.org for support. Hope to see you soon!

EOHLC has provided this information in Public Housing Notice 2024-07:

“Amended LTO funding is effective June 7, 2024. To receive an increase in funding, LTOs must submit a revised budget for LHA approval that reflects the increase in LTO funding authorized by the revision of 760 CMR 6.09(3)(c). Once an LTO budget is approved by the LHA, the LHA will then disburse the revised LTO funding. The LHA should account for the LTO increase in any budget revision. No action is required if the LTO’s budget would not increase based upon the new per occupied unit funding.”

June 27: Resident Board Member Training

Register here: https://www.melkinginstitute.org/event/7401 

This free virtual training is part of the Mel King Institute’s Public Housing Training Program. It is only open to residents who serve on the Board of their Local Housing Authority. As part of Mass Union’s partnership with MKI, Sarah Byrnes will be the trainer.

The training helps participants handle challenges unique to their particular role as both a resident and a Board Member. Participants learn about the role of the Board Member, take an in-depth look at budgets and capital improvement plans, and receive a free resource binder. They get a chance to network with each other to discuss experiences and share stories in order build confidence to perform their duties and contribute to a thriving Housing Authority.

Quotes from past participants and stakeholders:

  • “This Resident Board Member Training was the best I ever took. I have been talking all types of classes for 25 years now. My resource binder is now my Bible for questions and answers.” – Phyllis May, Resident Board Member, Framingham Housing Authority
  • “I enjoyed this training immensely. The role-playing activities brought the examples home to us and aided us in understanding Board and resident issues. I would recommend this course to anyone who is a Resident Board Member.” – Susan Stanek, Resident Board Member, Ludlow Housing Authority

Please email or call Emma Caviness if you have any questions, emmac@macdc.org, 617-379-5933.

Policy Updates and Positions: Fall 2023 – Summer 2024

June 4: Good News! Bond Bill Updates

May 9: Mass Union Letter to Chair Michlewitz about the Affordable Homes Act (PDF)

April 19: Action Alert: Increase Funding for State Public Housing

March 5: Mass Union Letter to Chair Michlewitz about the FY25 State Budget (PDF)

January 26: New Public Housing Notice Gives Tenants More Voice

January 26: Mass Union and Legal Aid’s Comment on proposed changes to 760 CMR 6.00 (PDF)

January 25: Mass Union Statement on the Governor’s FY25 Budget Proposal

January 19: Mass Union Written Testimony on the Affordable Homes Act (PDF)

January 18: Watch Mass Union Testify at the Affordable Homes Act Hearing

January 15, 2024: 760 CMR Update

December 22, 2023: Policy Update: Good Things are Happening

December 1, 2023: Mass Union’s Letter to Governor Healey RE the FY25 Budget (PDF)

October 18, 2023: Mass Union Statement on the Affordable Homes Act

Good News! Bond Bill Updates, June 4, 2024

On Monday June 3, the House Ways and Means Committee released its version of the Bond Bill (aka the Affordable Homes Act). The House is expected to pass it on Wednesday, June 5, and then it will move on to the Senate. The House made changes to the bill, three of which impact public housing:

    1. The House added $500 million for capital repairs in state housing! This brings their proposal up to a total of TWO BILLION DOLLARS for the backlog of capital needs. Yes, that’s billion with a “b”! While there are still hurdles to get through before we see this money in our communities, it is great news that the House has increased the amount. No one understands the need for capital repairs better than you. Thank you again for making your voices heard.
    2. Stronger tenant protections during Redevelopment. As you may recall, the Bond Bill includes important protections for tenants who are facing redevelopment. The House made these protections even stronger, and ensured that tenants will not need to be rescreened when they come back to their homes after redevelopment.
    3. The LHA merger section has been removed. The original bill included a section that would make it easier for Housing Authorities to merge with each other. This language appears to be gone from the new version. (Mass Union’s board and policy committee had suggested that this section be strengthened to protect tenants.)

We will closely watch all three provisions as the bill is debated in the House and then moves to the Senate. We will let you know how you can take action for tenants soon. Stay tuned!