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Action Needed! Campaign for Safe and Dignified State Public Housing

Updated Friday, April 21, 2023

On Wednesday, April 12th, the House Ways and Means Committee released its proposed FY2024 budget for the coming year. It included $102 million for the housing authority operating subsidy line item, a $10 million increase over last year. But more is needed to preserve public housing now and for the future. 

Residents’ voices need to be heard. 

As soon as possible, please ask your Representative to co-sponsor the following amendments:

  • Amendment #392: Amendment #392 would increase the public housing subsidy to $112 Million, a $10 Million increase over the House Ways & Means request of $102 Million. Public housing operating subsidy is critical to preserving public housing. Amendment #392 was filed by Representative Danillo Sena.
  • Amendment #966: Amendment #966 would provide $1 million for tenant participation funding for state public housing to raise the amount from $6/unit to $25/unit as in federal public housing and $1 million to launch a resident maintenance program. Amendment #966 was Filed by Representative Carole Fiola.
  • Amendment #1137: Amendment #1137 provides language to establish an Access to Counsel Program and funding of $7 million to phase it in. An Access to Counsel Program would provide legal representation for low-income tenants and low-income owner occupant landlords in eviction proceedings. While 86% of landlords are represented in Housing Court, only 11.5% of tenants are represented. Amendment #1137 was filed by Representative Dave Rogers.

Please contact your Representative as soon as possible. We have one week to get co-sponsors before the House starts to debate the budget during the week of April 24th.

To find your Representative go to:
https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator

To access the actual language of the amendments you can go to: https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2024/HouseDebate

Become a Mass Union Affiliate!

Public housing tenant associations are invited to join Mass Union as affiliates! You do not need to be officially recognized by the Housing Authority but you do need to have held an election and have at least five active members.

Member Benefits

  • Run and vote for our board of directors and officers
  • Participate in committees
  • Vote in our policy agenda prioritization process
  • Receive technical assistance and training, including election support for your LTO
  • Apply for scholarships to our bi-annual Conventions
  • Join regional and state networks with other tenants to learn directly from each other
  • Help us build Spaghetti Power to improve quality of life for tenants! Organizing is like spaghetti. One strand alone is easy to break with one hand. But bring a whole bunch of strands together – they become unbreakable. ~ Arlene Carr, Resident Leader

How to Join

Email info@massunion.org and let us know you would like to join Mass Union!! In the email, tell us:

  1. The name of your tenant group and your Housing Authority
  2. Your group’s contact person and their phone number, email, and mailing address
  3. Confirm that your group has held an election and has at least five active members

Mass Union’s Annual Member Dues are $50 per year. Payment can be made by check or online.

Contact info@massunion.org or call us at 617.825.9750 for more information.

Convention Scholarship Information

The Mass Union Board of Directors has approved $12,000 in scholarships for our affiliates! We are hoping for a big turn out and lots of new faces.

Scholarships will cover the full cost of the Convention from 8am on Saturday until 1pm on Sunday. This covers all meals and sessions, the Jack Cooper Retirement Gala on Saturday, and a shared room on Saturday night. Registration and Breakfast open at 8am on Saturday and the Morning Plenary begins at 10am.

To request a scholarship, email info@massunion.org by April 13 at 5pm. Tell us:

  1. The name of your tenant group and your Housing Authority.
  2. Which one or two people would like to come and their contact information. You can apply for a scholarship as one or two individuals.
  3. Please write one sentence about why you want to attend and why you need funds. All answers are acceptable! We appreciate your honesty.

Process

  1. CONTACT US! Email us with the information above by April 13 at 5pm.
  2. RAFFLE! We will draw names on a live Zoom meeting on April 14 at 9am. Join us then for the fun! You do not need to be present on the Zoom Raffle to win a scholarship. We will notify you that day. If more than two people from one town/city apply, we will provide scholarships for the first two names drawn.

Scholarship Eligibility

  1. You must be an affiliate or have applied for affiliation by April 7. Read about becoming an affiliate.
  2. If you have paid to attend the Convention in the past, we urge you to please use the same funding again! If you can access funds from your LTO, RAB or Housing Authority, please, please do. There are many people who cannot access these types of funds and we hope to offer the scholarships to them. This will allow as many tenants as possible to attend. We especially want to welcome new members and people from small Housing Authorities who usually cannot afford to come. Thank you for your understanding!
  3. If you win a scholarship, you must participate in the Convention! Join workshops, discussions, and bring your best self. 🙂 Thank you!

Hello from Mass Union

Hello from Mass Union! My name is Sarah Byrnes and I am delighted to be the new Executive Director here at Mass Union. I started on Wednesday March 1 and it has been an excellent first week! I want to thank the board and staff for their very warm welcome.

Many of you know me from my time at the Mel King Institute, where I worked for over six years running the Public Housing Training Program. Through that work I was fortunate to get to know many residents and their advocates.

I will be holding an Open Zoom Meeting for affiliates and residents on March 23 at 10am to introduce myself to the community. Please join me and other members of the MU team then! Contact Info@MassUnion.org for the Zoom link.

At the session, you will have a chance to get to know me and other residents, learn about Mass Union’s upcoming Convention, and provide your input about the direction of Mass Union.

Speaking of the Convention, please Save the Date!

Mass Union Spring Convention
May 5, 2023 – May 7, 2023
Best Western, Royal Plaza Hotel & Trade Center
181 Boston Post Road
Marlborough, MA

Registration information will be coming soon.

Stay tuned for more updates, and thank you for being part of the Mass Union community.

MU Proposed By-Laws

Please Review our Proposals!

In the Fall, Mass Union Board will convene the Fall 2022 Convention where we will vote on by-law amendments. Before the convention, we want to give Mass Union affiliates an opportunity to review and give feedback on proposed by-law amendments.

Here are links to the:

  1. By-laws with the Proposed Amendments
  2. Summary of Proposed Amendments for the Spring 2022 Convention
  3. An Online Survey

Mass Union is also mailing all of these materials to affiliates.

Chance to Review

MUPHT will be rescheduling its online zoom meeting for affiliates to review proposed by-laws. Stand by for more information.

Affiliate Feedback

There are two ways to give the Board feedback:

  1. mail in the hardcopy survey by August 10 or
  2. submit the online survey by August 17 at https://bit.ly/3bHUY9K

Update on Spring 2022 Convention

Click for an update on votes taken at the Update on Spring 2022 Convention

POSTPONED: MASS UNION OF PUBLIC HOUSING SPRING CONVENTION

Due to Federal and State directives regarding the Coronavirus(Covid-19) emergency, Mass Union Convention is postponed.

On Tuesday March 10th Charlie Baker Governor of Massachusetts declared a state of emergency in an effort to manage a “significant uptick” of coronavirus cases.

Mass DPH’s website has information and best practices on coronavirus in Massachusetts, including current cases, current quarantine numbers, and prevention recommendations. This information is updated daily at the above link. Guidance at this time essentially asks residents to take special care of hygiene, as one would do to control the spread of influenza.

  • Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
  • Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household
    cleaning spray or wipes.
  • Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.
  • Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.

Continue reading POSTPONED: MASS UNION OF PUBLIC HOUSING SPRING CONVENTION

BHA Administrator: “Just a Kid from Southie”

BHA Administrator, Bill McGonagle, talks leadership and his own experiences growing up in public housing.

In continuing to recognize individuals as leaders with passions to serve others at the BHA, many consider BHA’s own Administrator, Bill McGonagle, to be a sympathetic leader—demonstrating sincerity and concern for residents since stepping into the top spot in 2009.

However, according to McGonagle, his passion to lead and serve is not just rooted in his professional resume, which is filled with roles in human service, but also derives from experiences he gained while growing up in BHA’s very own Mary Ellen McCormack Public Housing development in South Boston.

Born and raised in a large Irish-Catholic family, McGonagle lived in a small apartment with his five brothers and sisters. Although his family possessed little financially, McGonagle recognized at an early age, the importance of family and community. His fondest childhood memories included bonding with his two brothers at the beach in the summer and being an altar boy at Saint Monica and Augustine Catholic Church at Mass on Sunday mornings.

Continue reading BHA Administrator: “Just a Kid from Southie”