Author: Mass Union

  • Mass Union Signs Letter to Stop Elon Musk and DOGE from Gutting HUD

    As we know, HUD is the federal agency dedicated to addressing our most pressing housing, community development and homelessness challenges and serves millions of renters, homeowners, and people experiencing homelessness.

    Attempts by Elon Musk and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to terminate at least half of all HUD employees, if successful, would be DISASTROUS for our communities.

    Mass Union has signed a national letter to stop this. Read the full letter here, which will be finalized on March 11, 2025.

  • March 28 – Reasonable Accommodations Webinar

    Date: March 28th
    Time: 11:00am- 12:15pm

    Zoom: Register below for link!

    The Tenant Advocacy Project—also known as TAP—is a student practice group at Harvard Law School that represents current and prospective public housing tenants and Section 8 voucher recipients in administrative hearings and other disputes with their housing authority.

    On March 28th, we will be joined by law students, Sarah Berton and AJ Williamson to learn what a Reasonable Accommodation is, how to request one, and what to expect after submitting a request. We will also spend time answering general questions about the process. The hope is that you leave the webinar confident and knowledgeable about approaching your housing authority to request any Reasonable Accommodation you might need.

  • March 2025 – Local Tenant Organization (LTO) Life Cycle Training

    When: March 17, 24, and 31 at 11am

    Where: Zoom– Register below by Wednesday, March 12 at 5pm!

    Are you working to start a new LTO? Or maybe your existing LTO needs to be revived? In either case, join us for the LTO Life Cycle training!
    This three-part training series is catered to seasoned resident leaders. Working alongside other resident leaders and Mass Union staff, you will learn all the steps necessary to launch or revive a strong and diverse LTO.  We’ll focus on LTO recognition requirements, officer roles and responsibilities, relationship-building, and setting cultural values that promote diverse and functional LTOs.
    Mass Union Network Leaders and staff will remain in touch with you after the training to offer ongoing support.

     

  • Take Action Now! Trump Administration to Terminate Half of All HUD Staff in Attempt to Decimate Agency

    From the National Low Income Housing Coalition:

    The Trump Administration is expected to terminate half of all employees at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This will decimate the agency and must not happen.

    Tenants should contact their federal senators and representatives RIGHT AWAY and demand they protect HUD staff and programs!

    Background

    According to reports, the Trump administration will terminate half of all HUD employees. This will make it significantly harder for states and communities to access key federal resources used to:

        • Provide rental assistance to help low-income households afford their homes.
        • Build and preserve affordable rental housing for low-income households.
        • Address and prevent homelessness, which has reached its highest level on record.
        • Operate and maintain public housing and other affordable housing for millions of seniors, people with disabilities, and families with young children.
        • Revitalize neighborhoods, promote economic development, and improve community facilities, including infrastructure and services in low-income communities.
        • Reform restrictive zoning and land use regulations that inflate housing costs.
        • Investigate and enforce fair housing and civil rights laws.
        • Rebuild housing and infrastructure after major disasters and mitigate future harm.

    As a direct consequence, homeless shelters will close their doors, communities will stop construction on new projects to build housing and community centers, households receiving rental assistance will face immediate rent increases and evictions, and communities, families, and small businesses impacted by disasters will be unable to rebuild.

    At a time when housing costs are far out of reach for renters and when homelessness has reached an all-time high, now is the time to strengthen federal investments in affordable housing and homelessness solutions.

    In late January, the Trump administration directed all federal agencies, including HUD, to withhold all federal assistance investments – including essential HUD funds. After enormous pressure from advocates and congressional champions, the administration rescinded its directive after 48 hours. Now, President Trump is attempting to decimate HUD by terminating critically needed staff.

    Take Action

    Tenants must act urgently to protect HUD! Tell your members of Congress why HUD resources are critical to low-income families and communities and urge them to protect HUD programs and staff.

  • City of Boston and State of Massachusetts Create Access to Counsel Pilot Programs for Tenants Facing Eviction

    By the National Low Income Housing Coalition, February 10, 2025

    The City of Boston launched an Access to Counsel Pilot Program in January to help families facing eviction, following the state legislature passing a statewide Access to Counsel Pilot Program in July 2024. Advocates hope that successful implementation of these pilot programs will lead to permanent and expanded funding – at the city and state levels – for legal counsel for tenants facing evictions.

    The Boston program is being led by the City’s Office of Housing Stability in partnership with Boston Public Schools, FamilyAid Boston, and Greater Boston Legal Services. The Access to Counsel Pilot Program was established with $300,000 from the City’s FY25 annual operating budget; it is expected to assist at least 120 households in 2025. Boston Public School families experiencing or at risk of homelessness, who have long been connected to FamilyAid Boston through case management and wrap-around services, will now have access to full legal counsel when facing an eviction. The organizations implementing the program have a history of collaborating to support low-income households across the city. The pilot program funding expands their capacity to serve more households with children, thereby reducing educational disruptions, stabilizing family environments, and promoting long-term wellbeing. The pilot program is part of Boston’s comprehensive eviction prevention strategy, which also includes providing emergency rental assistance, housing search services, and an established presence at housing court to facilitate landlord-tenant mediation…

    Read the Full Article!

  • Federal Updates for Public Housing Tenants

    On Friday, February 7, Mass Union hosted the National Low Income Housing Coalition at our policy committee meeting. Thank you to Lindsay Duvall for her informative presentation! We will post the recording of the presentation here when it is ready.

    Stay up-to-date on our policy advocacy by joining our policy committee, which meets the first Friday of every month at 11am over Zoom. Email info@massunion.org to receive reminders. And, save the date for Public Housing Day at the Massachusetts State House! Now is the time to make our voices heard and protect and improve both state and federally funded public housing!

    Resources

    Download Lindsay’s Slides (PDF)

    Links from the Chat:

  • Feb 26 – Webinar: New EOHLC Guidelines on Tenant Participation

    February 26, 1pm
    Via Zoom –

    Over the past year, Mass Union worked closely with the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to write guidelines for Housing Authorities about tenant participation. We wanted the guidelines to address areas of concern that you, tenants and LTOs, had identified. We’re thrilled that EOHLC released the new guidelines on December 16, 2024. Read them here!

    Join Mass Union and our longstanding attorney Annette Duke on February 26 at 1pm to review the new guidelines (known as a Public Housing Notice, or PHN). The PHN contains six pages of detailed guidance for Housing Authorities regarding their interactions with LTOs, as well as two Attachments. The PHN affirms the independence of LTOs and important practices regarding Tenant Participation Funds. For example, it makes clear that funds may be used to support quality of life initiatives, such as community gardens, wellness classes, computer labs and more. Join us to learn more about the contents of the PHN and to think about how you can use it to build power and voice for tenants at your development, so that together, you can improve the quality of life for residents.

    Have you used the new PHN in your community? For example, have you discussed it with tenants or the Housing Authority, or used it to advocate for improvements? If so, please let us know – we may want to share your story on the webinar. Email info@massunion.org or call 617.825.9750. Thank you!

  • Oct 3-5: Mass Union’s Fall 2025 Convention and Board Election

    The Fall 2025 Convention will be held at the Best Western in Marlborough, MA. Programming will be offered on Friday, October 3, Saturday, October 4, and the morning of Sunday, October 5.

    AGENDA |  ELECTION | BOSTON BUS

    Spanish translation provided! Se prestarán servicios de interpretación en español. Haga clic aquí para registrarse.

    Featured Speakers

    Online registration for the Convention has now closed. If you would like to attend, please call us at 617-825-9750.

    Hotel rooms are no longer available to reserve. Every attendee who reserved a hotel room before September 25 will have a room.

  • May 7: Public Housing Day at the State House

    THANK YOU to everyone who joined us at the State House!

    If you would like to check our 2025 policy priorities we worked on during Public Housing Day, click here.
    Join us for a day of Workshops, Meetings, Civic Engagement and Education

    Featuring Keynote Remarks from Secretary Ed Augustus, Senator Adam Gomez, Representative Carole Fiola, Tenant Leaders, and More!

     

     

     

    Civic Engagement Workshop with Commonwealth Seminar

    Meetings with Policy-Makers

    Make your voice heard to support fair funding for public housing, Access to Counsel for tenants facing eviction, protection for tenants undergoing redevelopment, and more. Join public housing tenants and their allies from across the state at Public Housing Day at the Massachusetts State House!

    Parking information below.

    CLICK HERE TO PAY ONLINE FOR YOUR REGISTRATION

    $100 per tenant is requested to cover the costs of Breakfast, Lunch, T-shirts and Interpretation
    $125 per non-tenant

    Buses will be provided from certain locations for an additional fee. Parking and travel information below!THANK YOU TO OUR PUBLIC HOUSING DAY SPONSORS!

  • Jan 27 – Capital Planning Webinar with EOHLC

    11am-12pm Via Zoom

    Join this webinar with Mass Union and EOHLC (Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities) to learn more about funding and supporting capital improvements at your Local Housing Authority.
    Due to the successful passage of the Affordable Homes Act, $2.2 billion has been earmarked to address the dangerous backlog of capital needs in public housing. Join us to get an overview of the capital improvement planning process at your Local Housing Authority. Tenants have the right to weigh in, and your voice is critical.
     
    This webinar is open to all residents of Local Housing Authorities. Please register below. We will send you the Zoom link after you register. If you encounter difficulties, contact Lilith Dyke at lilith@massunion.org.