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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