FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
press@mlri.org

BOSTON, MA (July 14, 2026) — The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is pleased
to honor Sarah Byrnes, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing
Tenants (Mass Union), with this year’s Gladys Vega Outstanding Community Leader Award
on Tuesday, September 15, 2026. This distinguished award recognizes exceptional leaders
who champion the rights and dignity of their communities across Massachusetts.
Byrnes stepped into the role of Executive Director of Mass Union in 2023, and is at the helm
during one of the most consequential moments for public housing residents in recent
history. Across the country, federal actions by the Trump Administration have targeted
vulnerable and marginalized communities in public housing – but the threat extends far
beyond any one group, putting at risk the stability, rights, and futures of all public housing
residents.

At Mass Union – a statewide organization run by tenants for tenants – Byrnes is on the
frontlines of this fight. Since joining Mass Union, she has expanded the organization’s reach
and visibility, adding new programs, partnerships, and key events like an annual Public
Housing Day at the State House. Byrnes considers herself first and foremost an organizer,
and tenant leadership development is at the heart of Mass Union’s work.

“Sarah brings both the leadership and perseverance that this moment demands,” says
Georgia Katsoulomitis, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. “At a
time when public housing funding is at risk and residents are under serious threat of losing
housing, she is exactly the kind of leader we need. She has been in the trenches with
residents, cultivating and fostering strong tenant leaders, and is relentless in fighting for the
human right to housing and for the rights of families in public housing.”

“This award belongs to every tenant leader who has contributed to their Local Tenant
Organization, stood up for public housing at the State House, or refused to let their
community be pushed aside,” said Byrnes. “Public housing residents are facing
unprecedented threats right now, and I’m honored to be part of an organization built on the
belief that the people most affected by these policies are also the ones best equipped to
fight them.”

This year’s Catalyst for Change event will be held on September 15, 2026 at the UMass Club
in Boston. The evening brings together legal advocates, community leaders, private bar
attorneys, and supporters committed to advancing economic and social justice across the
Commonwealth.

About the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute

Founded in 1968, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is a nonprofit poverty law and
policy program that provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws,
policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income
people and communities. To learn more, visit MLRI.org.

Prices

Mass Union does everything we can to keep prices as low as possible, including by soliciting sponsors. These costs reflect the minimum to cover expenses. Thank you for your understanding!

Daytime Attendance: $230

Covers the following:

• Breakfast and lunch on Friday
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner on Saturday
• Breakfast on Sunday
• Attendance at any and all workshops and plenaries on all three days
• Convention materials

Hotel Rooms: $185/night

If you are sharing a hotel room, you will be responsible for half of this cost per night – $92.50. Hotel rooms are available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights (October 1 – 3).

Paying for the Convention

1. Use Tenant Participation Funds from the Local Tenant Organization

Local Tenant Organizations receive Tenant Participation Funds from the Housing Authority to support their operations and support tenant leadership development. Your LTO can include funds for the Mass Union Convention in your budget. Please contact your Organizer or our main office for more information.

2. Ask your Local Housing Authority to Sponsor Your Attendance

Convention attendance can eat up a big portion of the LTO’s annual budget, so another option is to ask your LHA to sponsor your attendance! Their support will be recognized and celebrated widely. Read all about it below, and give them this Sponsorship PDF to kick off the conversation. They will join 30+ other LHAs who have provided sponsorships in the past.

On October 4, 2026 at our Annual Meeting in Marlborough, Mass Union affiliates will choose officers to serve on the board of Mass Union.

Bylaws Article VII, Section 1

Election of Officers: At the Annual Meetings held in even-numbered years, the affiliates shall meet and elect a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and an Assistant Treasurer and any other officer who will be deemed appropriate. Each officer shall be a member of the Board.

Read our bylaws

Process

Affiliates are invited to nominate current members of the board for Officer seats (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Assistant Treasurer). Note that only current board members can be nominated, including current officers. Please see a list of current board members here.

• Nominations must be submitted by September 1, 2026 at 5pm.
• Nominations can only be made by members of our affiliates.
• To nominate someone, please email the following to info@massunion.org:
  • Your name and your affiliate’s name (i.e., the name of your Tenant Organization)
  • The person you are nominating
  • The office you are nominating them for (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, or Assistant Treasurer)

After September 1, the staff will confirm whether the nominated persons wish to run for the seat. The board will ratify the list of nominees at its September meeting, per our bylaws. Candidate information will be distributed to affiliates as soon as possible, and voting will occur per the process in our bylaws on October 4, 2026. Additional voting procedures will be announced in coming months. Please contact us with any questions. Thank you!

At its Fall 2026 Convention, Mass Union will choose one Housing Authority to honor with its first-ever Housing Authority of the Year award.

“We are thrilled to present this honor for the first time,” said Dave Underhill, Mass Union’s Board Chair. “There are many excellent Housing Authorities in Massachusetts. Tenants are eager to show our appreciation for the LHAs who provide sound management, encourage and value tenant participation, and respect all tenants at all times. We invite Mass Union affiliates to nominate their Housing Authority for this award, and we look forward to selecting the winner!”

Nomination Process

Mass Union affiliates are invited to nominate their LHA or another LHA for this award by emailing info@massunion.org by 5pm on August 14, 2026. Please note that the nomination must be made by the affiliate as a whole, not by an individual tenant.

Before submitting your nomination, please read the criteria below. In your email, please “make the case” for why this LHA should win. You can:

• Share your positive experiences with the LHA, 
• Include data from the LHA’s Performance Management Review or Tenant Satisfaction Survey (see data for state housing here),
• Provide other information.

Criteria

I. RESPECTFUL

The LHA is consistently respectful toward all tenants, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, language, or any other characteristic. The LHA “treats tenants as human” and shows compassion. Provides robust language access for all tenants.

II. VALUES TENANT INPUT and LOCAL TENANT ORGANIZATIONS

• Sees tenants as partners who hold crucial real-world experience that can inform Housing Authority decisions
• Listens to tenant input and incorporates tenant suggestions in policies, procedures, hiring decisions, and Annual Plans
• Encourages and supports the formation of Local Tenant Organizations
• Respects the integrity of the Local Tenant Organization; i.e. its election results, decisions, and privacy
• Meets with Local Tenant Organizations regularly
• Negotiates a Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Tenant Organization
• Provides Tenant Participation Funds promptly, per regulations
• Allows tenants a meaningful voice at LHA Board Meetings
• Supports Mass Union’s Convention, Public Housing Day, or other events

III. PROVIDES SOUND MANAGEMENT

Tenants understand that LHAs have been underfunded for decades. We wish to recognize the LHAs who provide the best possible stewardship of their assets and income. Tenants pay rent and deserve to live in dignified housing. For example:

• The LHA is accessible and responsive to tenants, including those who do not speak English, providing office hours and responding to inquires in a timely manner.
• Responds to work orders in a timely manner.
• Provides safe, clean housing without rodents, bugs, or mold. Does not allow trash to pile up.
• Provides accurate rent calculations and respectfully responds to all questions regarding the calculation. Provides a transparent process.
• Is transparent with all finances and has a clean financial record.
• Has been recognized by third parties for providing sound management.
• Receives positive findings in its Performance Management Review and Tenant Satisfaction Survey(s).
• Demonstrates effort to meet these criteria, and is moving in the right direction.

Selection Committee

The Selection Committee will be comprised of Mass Union board members, affiliates, staff and partners.

If you are a member of one of our affiliates and would like to join the committee, please email info@massunion.org by Monday, July 27 at 12pm. The Mass Union board will determine the members of the committee at its 1pm meeting that day. Please note:

• If your LHA is nominated for the award, you cannot serve on the committee.
• The committee will meet over Zoom during the week of August 17 to make its decision. You must be available for one or more meetings that week.

On April 28, 2026, the Trump Administration released yet another proposal that would harm public housing communities. This time, they are attacking our LGBTQ+ neighbors. The proposal rolls back previous HUD rules that protect LGBTQ+ families and individuals from discrimination in HUD-subsidized housing and shelter, including federal public housing. If put into effect, this could allow landlords to refuse to provide housing to LGBTQ+ families and individuals, or even evict a family after learning that a family member is transgender or gay.

The Mass Union board strongly opposes this proposal. Our value of “Radical Inclusion” applies to individuals with different gender identities and sexual orientations. All people should be welcome in public housing. We will be discussing this further on June 12, 2026, at 11am over Zoom. We will gather comments from tenants to submit to HUD showing our opposition to this cruel proposal. All public housing tenants are welcome! Email info@massunion.org to get the Zoom link.

Read a full legal analysis from the National Housing Law Project here.

Click here (PDF)!

This week Mass Union needs to raise our voices in support of four budget amendments in the Senate.  

Today and tomorrow, please call or email your Senator and ask them to co-sponsor the following Amendments to the Senate’s version of the State Budget. 

• Amendments #24 and #38 – increase the public housing Operating Subsidy from $117 million to $120 million
• Amendment #25 –  increases funding for Resident Service Coordinators from $6.5 to $7.1 million 
• Amendment #905 – provides $3 million for funding for Access to Counsel in evictions 

Find your Senator’s contact information here. When you call or email let them know that you are a constituent. This means a lot!

Next week the Senate will debate these amendments and we will keep you posted and send you a link so you can watch the debate. 

We’ve built a lot of power together over the past few years. Now, let’s make our voices heard!

Here’s what to do – Three Simple Steps!

1. Find your State Senator here. Note that you do not need to contact your State Rep at this time.
2. Email their office and ask them to co-sponsor all three amendments above. Use subject line: Protect Public Housing Residents in Your Community. You can copy and paste the list.
3. Call the office to follow up. Ask to speak to a member of the staff. Remember, don’t be shy – their job is to hear your input!

In an impressive display of tenant power, well over 100 tenants attended Mass Union’s Public Housing Day on April 16, 2026. They came from over 40 Local Tenant Organizations and 30 Housing Authorities. Tenants spoke directly to legislators about the need for fair funding for public housing, additional Resident Services Coordinators for our communities, access to counsel for tenants facing eviction, and protection for tenants undergoing redevelopment. Tenant leaders spoke passionately about these needs, and the need to defend immigrants in our communities in light of ongoing attacks from HUD. See photos below.

We are proud to report on our legislative accomplishments:

• • Tenant advocates from Jamaica Plain successfully urged State Rep. Montaño to propose an amendment to the House budget to provide technical assistance for tenants facing redevelopment. An immediate win!
  • Tenants helped circulate “Dear Colleague” letters from Rep. Cruz and Senator Payano opposing HUD’s “mixed-status” proposal which would evict 80,000 immigrants from public housing nationwide. In the end, 15 Senators and 15 Representatives signed on, and the letters have been submitted to HUD as part of the official record. Together, tenants and legislators are taking a powerful stand to protect vulnerable members of our communities.

During our morning speaking program, we heard from State House leadership about the importance of ensuring that public housing remains a strong foundation for families and communities across the Commonwealth.

Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues reaffirmed the legislature’s commitment to “support your priorities and improve the lives of our friends and families in public housing,” while Representative Carole Fiola reminded tenants that “you have the power to break down barriers and elevate the voices of your neighbors.” Representative Tram Nguyen emphasized that “real change happens when tenants organize and speak from lived experience,” and EOHLC Undersecretary Danielle Bastarache captured the heart of the day – public housing is “not just bricks and sticks,” she said, but the places “where people have their homes, raise their children, and build community.” Undersecretary Bastarche also commented that even after fifteen years of national work with public housing tenants, she had never seen a gathering like our Public Housing Day.

Many other allies made the day possible. Virginia Benzan of the Digital Equity Alliance gave inspiring luncheon remarks as part of the Mass Broadband Institute’s Platinum Sponsorship, reinforcing the importance of tenant access to digital resources. By the end of the day tenants were able to meet with 48 legislative offices. Meetings were led by tenants, staff, board, and allies such as CHAPA, Greater Boston Legal Services, Mass Law Reform Institute, and the Housing Justice Alliance. This coalition demonstrates growing support in the movement for the preservation of public housing.

The support of our sponsors allowed this advocacy, networking, and celebration to happen. In a “tough budget year,” our presence at the State House was all the more crucial to ensure the continuation of housing subsidies for some of the most vulnerable people in the Commonwealth. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts!

Platinum Sponsor

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsors

 

 

 

 

 

Bronze Sponsors

Acton Housing Authority

Haverhill Housing Authority

 

 

 

Topsfield Housing Authority

PHOTOS

Budget Amendment Fact Sheet (PDF)

Action Alert! Please contact your State Representative and ask them to co-sponsor the following amendments to the House FY27 Budget:

• • Amendment #754, raises the public housing Operating Subsidy from $117.8 to $120 million
  • Amendment #621, provides $350,000 for technical assistance for tenants facing redevelopment
  • Amendment #1419, increases funding for Access to Counsel in evictions from $3 to $4 million
  • Amendment #1291, includes the Access to Counsel bill in the budget, ensuring a stable statewide program
  • Amendment #1365, raises funding for Resident Service Coordinators from $6.5 to $7.5 million

Here’s what to do – Three Simple Steps!

1. 1. Find your State Representative here. Note that you do not need to contact your State Senator at this time.
   2. Email their office and ask them to co-sponsor all five amendments above. Use subject line: Protect Public Housing Residents in Your Community. You can copy and paste the list, and include a link to the PDF Fact Sheet.
   3. Call the office to follow up. Ask to speak to a member of the staff. Remember, don’t be shy – their job is to hear your input!

Please let Mass Union know you reached out – contact us at info@massunion.org!

Mass Union tenant leaders Dave Underhill and Carmen Baez spoke to MassLive for their coverage of HUD’s proposed rule change targeting mixed status families.

Though HUD says the rule change would “transfer assistance from mixed status families to fully eligible households,” immigration and housing advocates say in practice, it would result in forcing families to choose between separating or leaving their homes entirely, facing the prospect of homelessness.

“The people I know, they would not say, ‘Okay, see you later, I’m going to go. Mom, kids, have a good life.’ They’re either all going to try to fight it, or they’re all going to leave to go live together somewhere,” said Dave Underhill, a public housing tenant from Fall River and board president of the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants. “And if they’re in public housing now, let’s face it, they don’t have a lot of opportunities or a lot of places to move to.”

Read the full article at MassLive.com