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It’s the holiday season and we have good news to share. Mass Union recently met with Ben Stone, the head of the Division of Public Housing at EOHLC, along with two members of his staff. (EOHLC means the “Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities,” which is the new DHCD.) We are happy to report that EOHLC is planning some changes that will benefit tenants!

#1: Tenant Participation Funds

While we are still awaiting more details and confirmation, EOHLC has indicated that they will be raising the state tenant participation funding level to match the federal level of $25/unit/year. This is more than four times as much as the $6/unit/year state tenants are getting now!

#2: Tenant voice in Management Agreement decision-making

EOHLC is also working on a Public Housing Notice that will ensure that tenants have a voice when Local Housing Authorities (LHAs) are considering entering into “Management Agreements.”

What is a Management Agreement? Instead of hiring their own Executive Directors, some LHAs enter into a contract with another LHA to manage them. These are known as Management Agreements. As of now, LHAs can enter them without providing notice to tenants or seeking LTO input. We are working with EOHLC to ensure that tenants have a voice in this important decision-making.

Once there is more information to share, we will let you know. Please stay tuned!

Reminder: Other Policy Updates

Mass Union has nine policy areas that we are working on. Several are being addressed directly by EOHLC through regulations or guidance, as mentioned above. In addition, two of our priorities are addressed in the Affordable Homes Act, also known as the bond bill. Read our statement about the Affordable Homes Act here. We will be working on the bond bill throughout the spring and summer, until it is passed, to ensure that the full $1.6 billion is allocated for capital repairs in public housing, and tenants are guaranteed protections during redevelopment. We shall also joining with others to call for Access to Counsel be added to the bond bill so that low-income tenants facing eviction can have the legal representation they need.

Mass Union is excited to meet with Ben Stone, the head of the Division of Public Housing at EOHLC, next week. (EOHLC means the “Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, which is the new DHCD.) We have several agenda items we are planning to discuss, based on input from tenants across the state. Here is our agenda:

1. The status of regulatory updates to rent and other topics that were begun before COVID
2. Problems with the town tenant LHA board member appointment process
3. Increasing state Tenant Participation Funding to $25/unit/year, in order to match federal housing
4. Making sure tenants have a say in Housing Authority management agreements and mergers before they happen
5. Highlighting and enforcing grievance regulations

Stay tuned for an update about the meeting later in December.

Other Policy Updates

1. Mass Union has nine policy areas that we are working on. Two of them are addressed in the bond bill, which is officially called the Affordable Homes Act. Read our statement about the Affordable Homes Act here. We will be working on the bond bill throughout the spring, until it is passed, to ensure that the full $1.6 billion is allocated for capital repairs in public housing, and tenants are guaranteed protections during redevelopment.
2. Last week, Mass Union board chair Dave Underhill sent this letter to Governor Healey and high-ranking members of her Administration, such as Secretary Augustus. We asked Governor Healey to provide $189 million for public housing in the FY25 operating subsidy, and to fund our other priorities.
3. If you’ve read this far, consider joining Mass Union’s policy committee! We meet every other Friday to advance our policy agenda. Contact Ben if you are interested, ben@massunion.org.

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In May of 2023, in accordance with our bylaws, Mass Union held a Convention and board election. Because it is an odd-numbered year, the Directors (not Officers) were up for election. Twelve people ran for eight seats, representing the first time in recent memory that there were more interested parties than seats available. As a result, Mass Union attained its first full slate of Board Members in recent memory.

At the election, approximately 100 people were in attendance and witnessed a proper electoral procedure take place. Thirty-two affiliates participated and cast votes. The affiliates elected the following Directors who are still serving: Jessica Quinonez, Carol Roberts, Nicole Beckles, Maryanne Potrzuski, Bret Perkins, Sonia Andujar and Danielle Connolly. Sonia has since become Treasurer. She joins Dave Underhill and Donald Hamilton as Officers of the organization. At our Spring 2024 Convention, the affiliates will elect officers to the board from among the current board members. Please stay tuned for more information about the election, and see our bylaws here.

In January of 2023, the Mass Union board offered the position of Executive Director to Sarah Byrnes. Sarah began on March 1, succeeding Jack Cooper, who had been ED for 37 years. The board wishes to thank Sarah for her steadfast leadership during this time, and applaud the work she and her staff have accomplished.

We also wish to thank our affiliates and all the residents who participate in Mass Union in many ways, including our board election, spring and fall Conventions, and online events. We appreciate your time and your heroic commitment to your communities. Together, we are Mass Union. We look forward to many fruitful years of work together.

Sincerely,

The Mass Union Board of Directors and Officers

To all public housing residents: please join us on Friday, November 17 at 11am for a special meeting about the Governor’s Bond Bill!

• This bill proposes to provide $1.6 billion for capital repairs in state public housing.

• It would also help ensure that residents are protected during redevelopment.

We’re very excited to discuss the bill with Eric Shupin from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).

Mass Union has nine policy agenda items and we are hopeful that the bond bill, once enacted, will help address some of them. Mass Union will be counting on our affiliates to help make that happen. You can read more about our policy agenda here.

We will send you the Zoom link after you register below. Thank you!

Registration now closed

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Attleboro Housing Authority
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Cambridge Housing Authority
Watertown Housing Authority

8:00 AM – 9:45 AM – Continental Breakfast (Ballroom Foyer)

8:00 AM – 1:00 PM – Convention Registration (Lobby)

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Morning Plenary (Salon DE)

• Special Speaker: Ed Augustus, Massachusetts Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC)
• Reports from the Personnel, Finance, Membership and Policy Committees
• Mass Union Policy Agenda Priority Setting Exercise

12:00 PM – 1:15 PM – LUNCH (Courtyard)

1:30 PM – 2:45 PM – WORKSHOP OPTIONS

Using Your Grievance Process
Princess
Spanish translation available | Traducción al español disponible

A grievance procedure is a process to resolve disputes between residents in public housing and a Housing Authority. It is a way to work out problems without having to go to court. As a tenant, you have a right to use the grievance procedure to oppose some action that a Housing Authority wants to take against you, or to hold your Housing Authority accountable for the way they have acted or not acted. Many residents are unaware of this right! Join us to review your grievance rights, the process for filing grievances, and how to troubleshoot barriers you may encounter in the process.

Presenters: Annette Duke, Staff Attorney, Mass Law Reform Institute; Lori Manzo, President, Revere City-Wide Tenant Council; Mac McCreight, Attorney, Greater Boston Legal Services

Tenant Perspectives on LHA Management Agreements
Duchess

More and more, Housing Authorities are choosing to enter into management agreements with nearby LHAs in lieu of hiring their own Executive Directors. However, there is no provision for resident participation in the negotiation of such agreements, despite the fact that tenants are impacted by them. Mass Union believes this should change. Tenants have had both positive and negative experiences with management agreements. Join us to hear about both types of experiences, and to share your own perspective on this topic.

Moderator: Ben Echevarria, Mass Union Director of Organizing; Presenters: Judy O’Kulsky, President, Town Wide Belchertown Tenant Organization and Mass Union Network Leader; Maryanne Potrzuski, President, Winthrop Terrace Tenant Organization and Mass Union Board Member

“Ask the Attorneys”
Salon DE
Spanish translation available | Traducción al español disponible

Modeled on the popular session offered at each MassNAHRO Convention, this session will be a chance to ask Legal Aid attorneys your questions. Submit your questions in advance to info@massunion.org, or in writing at the Convention (we will provide index cards). Please submit general questions that the whole group may learn from.

Moderator: Sarah Byrnes, Executive Director, Mass Union; Presenters: Laura Camara, Directing Attorney of Housing Advocacy, South Coastal Counties Legal Services; Susan Hegel, Attorney, Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services; Chhaya Kotwani, Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Greater Boston Legal Services; Mary Lu Mendonca, Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Greater Boston Legal Services

2:45 PM – BREAK

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM – WORKSHOP OPTIONS

Local Tenant Organizations and Resident Participation
Princess

According to EOHLC, resident participation in decision-making at the Housing Authority is beneficial and should be encouraged. Join us for a review of your participation rights as well as tips for running a strong, impactful Local Tenant Organization (LTO). We’ll include tips for using the “Dot Exercise” to prioritize issues in a way that strengthens the LTO’s group cohesion.

Presenters: Ben Echevarria, Director of Organizing, Mass Union; Sue Kirby, President, Morency Tenants Organization and Mass Union Network Leader

Race, Class and Belonging
Duchess
Spanish translation available | Traducción al español disponible

Public housing is beautifully diverse. Join this session to reflect and learn about the role race and class play in public housing and Local Tenant Organizations. We’ll focus on how to ensure that your tenant group is “radically inclusive” so that everyone feels like they belong, regardless of their race, language, religion, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, (dis)ability, or any other factor.

Moderator: Danielle Connolly, Vice President, Stoneham Housing Resident Union and Mass Union Board Member; Presenters: Maria Fernandes-Dominique, Trainer and Facilitator; Sonia Andujar, Trainer and Facilitator and Mass Union Treasurer; Tiana Lawrence, Trainer and Facilitator

Redevelopment of Public Housing
Salon DE
Spanish translation available | Traducción al español disponible

Due to decades of deferred maintenance, public housing is in tough shape. While Mass Union continues to fight for adequate public investment in housing, “redevelopment” of public housing is also happening – sometimes in partnership with private, for-profit developers. In some cases, ownership moves to a new entity. Join this session with attorneys and residents to learn about Mass Union’s “Bill of Rights for Redevelopment,” which outlines how residents must have a voice in the whole redevelopment process and how they can retain all their rights post-development.

Moderator: Sarah Byrnes, Executive Director, Mass Union; Presenters: Shannon Bailey, President, Lee Fort Terrace LTO; Annette Duke, Staff Attorney, Mass Law Reform Institute; Susan Hegel, Attorney, Cambridge and Somerville Legal Services; Chhaya Kotwani, Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Greater Boston Legal Services; Mary Lu Mendonca, Staff Attorney, Housing Unit, Greater Boston Legal Services

4:15 – 5:00 PM – Closing Plenary and Raffles (Salon DE)