Latest News

Coming in April: Online Resident Leader Training Series

Tuesday mornings: April 2, 9, 23, 30 and May 7
10am – 11:30am
Via Zoom (link provided after you register)
Download and Share the Flyer (PDF)

This five-part training series will help you build confidence and skills to manage a successful Local Tenant Organization (LTO). Starting and sustaining an LTO is a lot of work, but Mass Union, MKI and our network of fellow tenants are here to help! Whether you are a seasoned leader or just getting started, join us to share tips, tricks and encouragement. We’ll talk about:

      • Why to form a Local Tenant Organizations – and why not to!
      • Leadership do’s and don’ts
      • The rights and responsibilities of Local Tenant Organizations
      • How to reach and engage other tenants by overcoming fear
      • How to build power and voice to win changes at your Local Housing Authority

Register below by March 26, 2024 at 5pm.

This series will be co-led by Maria Fernandes-Dominique of Culture Builders Cooperative LLC and is part of our partnership with the Mel King Institute.

March 28: North Shore Resident Leader Training Session

Mass Union is very excited to head up to Salem on March 28, 2024, for an in-person training session! All public housing residents are welcome. We will focus on the following:

    • Building power through strength in numbers (Spaghetti Power!)
    • Prioritizing issues
    • Listening skills

Whether you are trying to start an LTO or simply looking to refresh your knowledge, please join us. Here are the details:

Northshore Resident Leader Training Session
Thursday, March 28, 10am-3pm
Charter Street Development
Salem Housing Authority
27 Charter Street, Salem, 01970
Register below by March 25, 2024

    • Breakfast and lunch will be provided – please plan to arrive by 9:30
    • Stay tuned for information about parking
    • Spanish-English interpretation will be provided and Spanish speakers are enthusiastically encouraged to attend!

This training will be co-led by Maria Fernandes-Dominique of Culture Builders Cooperative LLC and is part of our partnership with the Mel King Institute.

Housing Authority Sponsorships

Download the Housing Authority Sponsorships PDF

This spring, Mass Union and MassNAHRO are once again teaming up to encourage Housing Authorities to send resident leaders to our Convention and Lobby Day. Thank you again to our Fall Convention supporters – the Fall River, Salem, Needham, Attleboro, Cambridge, Easthampton, Northampton, and Watertown Housing Authorities!

On May 19, resident leaders will gather at the Marriott in Marlborough for the Spring Conference for a day of networking and learning. The very next day, our empowered advocates will travel to the Massachusetts State House for Mass Union’s very first Lobby Day, where we will hear remarks from high-ranking officials (names TBA!) as well as representatives from MassNAHRO. At Lobby Day, we are excited to advocate for increased capital and operating funding for Housing Authorities – issues important to us all.

As you know, the regulations remind us that “cooperative working relationships enhance housing programs and benefit both LHAs and residents.” Educated tenants are an asset to any Housing Authority! Many LTOs currently receive only $500/year in Participation Funds, making Conference attendance out of reach. Mass Union works hard to reduce Convention costs but your help is needed to expand this opportunity for more residents. To show our appreciation for your commitment to resident education, Mass Union and MassNAHRO will recognize Housing Authorities who send tenants to our Convention in our publications. Please see the table below for recognition levels.

Housing Authorities may also buy ads in our Program Book for $50, $80, or $125. See more info here.

Residents can register for the event by April 24 here. Thank you in advance for your commitment to resident participation!

Resident Patron
Send 10+ Residents
$300.00 per Resident

HA logo on event signage and swag

Back Cover or Inside Front Cover ad in program book (while space lasts)

Recognition on Mass Union’s website, event emails and social media

Recognition in MassNAHRO’s publications

Resident Sustainer Send 5+ Residents
$300.00 per Resident

HA logo on event signage and swag

Full page ad in program book

Recognition on Mass Union’s website, event emails, and social media

Recognition in MassNAHRO’s publications

Resident Sponsor
Send 2+ Residents
$300.00 per Resident

HA logo on event signage and swag

Half page ad in program book

Recognition on Mass Union’s website, event emails, and social media Recognition in MassNAHRO’s publications

Questions? Contact Sarah Byrnes, Mass Union Executive Director

sarah@massunion.org  617- 825-9750

Thank you, we are grateful for your support!

May 19: Mass Union Board Election

OFFICER ELECTION
Nominees

At the Convention on May 19, there will be an Officer election to fill the five Officer positions: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer. The Officer election is open only to the current members of the board. Officer nominations are posted here and will be circulated in a mailing to affiliates in April, along with the Director nominations.

DIRECTOR ELECTION
Nominees

The Mass Union Board of Officers and Directors has decided to hold a special election to fill four open Director seats on the board. The election will be held at the Spring Convention on May 19, 2024. Any member of one of our affiliates may run for the open Director seats.

The nomination deadline has been extended by one month to March 31, 2024!

Members of our affiliates may run for the open Director seats. Nominations are due on March 31, 2024. Please see information about eligibility on page 6 of our bylaws. The Election is being overseen by an impartial Election Committee made up of people who are not running for a seat. Director Nicole Beckles is the Chair of the Committee. Affiliates may also join the Committee! If you would like to join the Election Committee, please email info@massunion.org.

How to Run

You may nominate yourself or another eligible member of one of our affiliates. If you nominate someone else, we will confirm that they would like run before circulating their nomination.

Submit the nominee’s name, contact information, and the name of her/his affiliate (LTO) to info@massunion.org by 5pm on March 31, 2024. If you wish, send us a photo and brief statement (not to exceed one half page) about the candidate.

Board Officer Nominations

Candidates for Chair: Don Hamilton and Dave Underhill

Don Hamilton

My name is Donald Hamilton, I am running for the office of CHAIR of Mass Union. I am President of Bishop Eid Tenants Association, I am the Vice-chair of the Board of The Fall River Tenants Association, I am Secretary on the Board of Mass Union. I have been active in all 3 positions. As President of Bishop Eid, I helped organized, write, and receive a Grant for $100K. The Grant gave us Outside Lighting and Security Cameras. As member of the Fall River Tenants Association, I have recently help with the election process in 1 Building with more elections to follow. As a member of Mass Union, I have helped in an election in the Boston Area, I have run 2 different workshops at our conventions, appeared in Quincy to give support for a training session. I have appeared in and gave testimony in 2 in person meetings with EOHLC (DHCD). When asked to help I took the lead. I am a man of my word I do what I say. TENANTS, TENANTS, TENANTS my first loyalty, my second loyalty is to the Board of Mass Union. I will do what is best for the Tenants and what is best for Mass Union. I respectfully ask for your vote and for your support.

Dave Underhill

Many of you already know me, my name is David Underhill, and I would appreciate your vote in my quest to continue as the Chairman of the MASS Union of Public Housing Tenants. Inc. The following are a few of my credentials that make me the perfect person to continue as Chairman.

  • Current Chairman of MASS Union Board (2023 – Present)
  • Former Vice Chairman of MASS Union Board (2021 – 2023)
  • Member of MASS Union Board (2015 -2021)
  • Current chairman of the Fall River Housing Joint Tenants Council (2018 – present)
  • Member of the Fall River Housing Joint Tenant Council (2015 – present)
  • Instrumental in getting the Tenant Assistant program at the Fall River Housing Authority implemented.
  • Current Commissioner and vice chairman of the Fall River Housing Authority Board of Commissioners (2015 – Present)
  • Resident Researcher with the Healthy Neighborhood Initiative (2021 – Present)

Based on my credentials I ask that you consider casting your affiliate’s vote for me to continue as your chairman.  When reelected I will work hard to ensure that MASS Union’s voice is heard at all levels of Government within the Commonwealth.

Candidate for Vice Chair: Maryanne Potrzuski

To all the affiliates of Mass Union, my name is MARYANNE POTRZUSKI and I am on the board of Mass Union as a Director and temporary Secretary. I am also President of the Winthrop Terrace Tenant Organization as well as a Board of Commissioner/Chair for the Warren Housing Authority. As a tenant I have seen some of the confusion we face and have worked very hard to make this housing a safe place to live. One of my goals as Chair was to get as many tenants as possible on the board of commissioners and to date, we have 3 out of 5 with a potential of a 4th coming soon! What better way to have a voice than with the ability to have a VOTE!! For this reason I am seeking the position of Vice Chair to continue to do this very important work and hope I can count on your vote at the Spring Convention! I hope I can count on your vote!

Candidate for Secretary: None

Candidate for Treasurer: Sonia Andujar

My main interest as a Board member is to continue understanding and practicing our A,B,C’s that is the legal duties that will continue to move Mass Union forward:

  1. Duty of care – the wise use of all assets
  2. Duty of loyalty-approve all activities that advance Mass Union mission
  3. Duty of compliance- follows the By-laws and other applicable laws and regulations

I am a member of the Alliance of Cambridge Tenants (ACT) since 2008 . I have been a Board Member acting as Treasurer and now coordinate their City Wide Meetings where tenants come together to find solutions to their housing issues. We work closely with the Cambridge Housing Authority. I am asking for your vote to continue as acting Treasurer and thank you for your consideration.

Candidate for Assistant Treasurer: Danielle Connolly

My name is Danielle Connolly and I am a Mass Union director and hold the interim Assistant Treasurer position on the board. I am also Vice President of the Stoneham Housing Residents Union. I am seeking the permanent Assistant Treasurer position for Mass Union come our Spring convention. I have been on the finance committee since being elected to the board and feel I would be a great contribution under Sonia to oversee Mass Union’s financial duties. I love being a part of an organization whose sole purpose is to be the voice of the tenants! I kindly ask for your vote in May to be your Assistant Treasurer of Mass Union. Thank you!

March 8: State Budget Hearing in Gloucester

Join other tenants from Mass Union at an upcoming hearing about the FY25 State Budget!

Joint Committee on Ways & Means Hearing on the State Budget
Friday, March 8
Gloucester City Hall, 9 Dale Ave, Gloucester, MA 01930

10:00 – Tenants gather at City Hall
10:30 – Hearing begins
12:30 – Mass Union lunch at McPherson Park development (tentative)

The hearing is focused on Housing, Economic Development, and Labor and state agencies are invited to testify. It is an opportunity for Mass Union members to hear testimony from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. If you can not join Mass Union members in person, it may also likely be live streamed (check back for the link).

Please email Sarah Byrnes, sarah@massunion.org, to RSVP or with questions. Hope to see you there!

Mass Union applauds the Healey Administration for funding crucial programs in the Governor’s FY25 budget, specifically:

  • Increasing the operating subsidy to $112 million for public housing, a $5 million increase from last year. While more is needed, this is a very important step in the right direction.
  • The operating subsidy will also fund an increase to Tenant Participation Funds, allowing tenants to have a stronger voice in the decision-making that impacts their lives.
  • We also applaud the allocation of $50 million for capital repairs in public housing in the FY24 supplemental budget.
  • And finally, we are thrilled to see the initiation of an Access to Counsel Program for tenants facing eviction, funded at $3.5 million.

We urge the legislature to adopt or increase these funding levels to protect the Massachusetts seniors, veterans, and families who rely on our precious state public housing.

April 3: Resident Board Member Roundtable

Join Resident Board Members from across the state to share stories, challenges and accomplishments! Two experienced resident board members, Carol Roberts of Brockton and Jessica Quinonez of Northampton, will facilitate an open agenda. As said by a resident board member at a recent training, “we are all in the same boat!”

Potential discussion topics:

    • Navigating board rules and regulations
    • Working with other board members, executive directors and local tenant organizations
    • Building confidence and leadership

Resident Board Member Roundtable Training: Wednesday, April 3, 2024 from 10am-11am. 

Register here: https://www.tfaforms.com/4634263?tfa_1=PHTP%20Resident%20Board%20Member%20Roundtable&tfa_2=2024-04-03&tfa_4=&tfa_12=701Qg000009n3cJ&tfa_3=

Prior to the training, we will send you the Zoom link. If you have any questions, you can email or call me at emmac@macdc.org, 617-379-5933.

This roundtable is being offered by our partner the Mel King Institute.

March 3: Rally for Public Housing

Mass Union’s partner GBIO is planning a rally to help bring the Housing Justice Campaign across the finish line by standing over 1,700 people strong!

We look forward to standing for housing justice alongside all of you at the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center (ISBCC)! The action will start at 3pm sharp.

Address: 100 Malcolm X Blvd, Roxbury, MA 02120
Parking and transit information coming soon

Registration is now closed

What is a “Lobby Day”?

Lobby Day is a special day for tenants to meet with legislators face-to-face and tell them how important it is to protect and improve public housing. By showing up together at the State House, we show our elected leaders that we are fighting for our rights and we are paying attention to how they vote.

This spring, the Massachusetts legislature is debating a once-every-five-year “bond bill,” as well as the FY25 budget. The bond bill, known as the Affordable Homes Act, provides $1.6 billion for public housing repairs and capital needs. While more is needed, this is a great start in the right direction! We need to ensure that our representatives do not weaken this bill before it passes in the summer!

How it Works

Tenants will arrive at the state house around 9:30 on May 20 and the programming will begin at 10:00am. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. (See information about transportation and interpretation here.) In the morning, we will hear from high-ranking state leaders (names TBA!) as well as our partners at MassNAHRO.

After the full group morning session, tenants will break into smaller groups and meet directly with either their elected representatives or members of the House and Senate leadership, or their staff. Our team will arrange these meetings with support from consultant and political whiz Elaine Almquist, and you will be trained and provided with talking points before you meet with reps. No one will have to speak unless they are comfortable doing so! Each small group will have designated leaders to make this work well.

During the free time between your small group meetings, we will provide other optional activities such as informational sessions with our partners, chair yoga, and lunch. Buses will then depart the state house around 2:30.