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Mass Union Fall 2024 Convention

Springfield Sheraton, One Monarch Place, Springfield MA, 01144
Saturday, October 19, 2024, 11AM – 4PM

THANK YOU TO OUR ATTENDEES- SEE YOU IN THE NEW YEAR!
Please fill out this evaluation for our Convention!

Breakfast and lunch provided
Spanish interpretation provided
Hotel rooms available on Friday night for an additional fee

CONVENTION AGENDA AND WORKSHOPS

PROPOSED BYLAWS AMENDMENTS

Join us for Mass Union’s one-day Fall Convention! As always we will provide learning and networking opportunities. Additional agenda items include:

    • Remarks from Springfield’s State Senator Adam Gomez and State Representative Carlos González, pictured below
    • Remarks from EOHLC Secretary Ed Augustus, by recorded video, pictured below
    • Updates to Mass Union’s Bylaws
    • Raffles!
    • Group Photo!
    • Workshops! Topics will include Reasonable Accommodations, featuring Harvard Law Students from TAP; LTO Compliance and Officer Roles; Radical Inclusion; Advocacy 101; and Working with Your Housing Authority Board

Transportation

Vans/buses are heading to the Convention from Fall River, Brockton, Cambridge and Salem. A limited number of seats are available on some of the vans/buses. Contact us for details and to reserve a spot! lilith@massunion.org, 617.825.9750

Parking

Parking at the Sheraton is $20 for the day, but there is a plethora of free parking within a short walk from the hotel. Please consult the map below. Note that while this map shows routes to the MassMutual Convention Center, it is the Sheraton below it where the Mass Union Fall Convention will be held. 
Thank you to the supporting Housing Authorities for our Fall 2024 Convention!

SILVER SPONSORPATRON HOUSING AUTHORITIES

SUSTAINER HOUSING AUTHORITY

SPONSOR HOUSING AUTHORITY

Honorable Mentions

Webster Housing Authority, Somerville Housing Authority

Sept 19: Webinar Resident Leader Training Session

Mass Union is very excited to see everyone online on Sept 19! 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:

Webinar Resident Leader Training Session
Thursday, September 19, 10am-11:30am

Zoom Link:
Phone: 301.715.8592; ID: 967 953 7651

Sept 18: Reasonable Accommodations Workshop

Offered by the Mass Office on Disability

Reasonable Accommodation and Modification Requests in Housing Workshop

September 18, 2024, 5:30-7:30 PM

If you can’t equally enjoy your housing because of a disability-related obstacle, what do you do? Join us for an interactive virtual workshop on the reasonable accommodation (RA) and modification (RM) request process in housing. This workshop provides information and examples to help you understand the process from start to finish and tips to avoid common pitfalls. This workshop is designed for residents with disabilities (or their advocates), whether they live in rented accommodation or are owners in a housing/condo association.

REGISTER HERE

October 8: Planning 102- How Racism & Classism Shaped Boston & Beyond

A training from the Mel King Institute.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

This innovative training series is a three-part hybrid training (101 & 102 are virtual, and 103 is in-person.) 102 will cover the historical evolution of planning in the context of systemic racism and efforts for equity. The interactive course will allow participants to gain perspectives from across the planning field. This training is ideal for people who are not currently practicing planners (staff members of CDCs, nonprofits, and those whose professions intersect with planning, such as community organizers and engagement professionals).

Esta innovadora serie de capacitación es una capacitación híbrida de tres partes (101 y 102 son virtuales y 103 es presencial). 102 cubrirá la evolución histórica de la planificación en el contexto del racismo sistémico y los esfuerzos por la equidad. El curso interactivo permitirá a los participantes obtener perspectivas de todo el campo de la planificación. Esta capacitación es ideal para personas que actualmente no ejercen como planificadores (miembros del personal de los CDC, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y aquellos cuyas profesiones se cruzan con la planificación, como organizadores comunitarios y profesionales de participación).

Instructor: Elijah Romulus

July 26 – OPHVP Resident Coalition and Capacity Building Training

Join us at Thomas P. O’Neill, Jr. Federal Building in Boston, MA on July 26th, 2024 from 9:00am to 5:00pm for an upcoming Public Housing Resident Coalition and Capacity Building Training hosted by the Office of Public and Indian Housing’s Office of Public Housing and Voucher Programs (OPHVP). This comprehensive in-person training is designed to equip Public Housing Residents with the knowledge, skills, tools, and capacity to successfully implement resident/tenant participation as required by 24 CFR 964.16.
During the day-long session, participants will work through the processes of forming and implementing effective and sustainable Resident Councils and regional coalitions of public housing residents. Tenant leaders and members of resident organizations will have the opportunity to:
  • Develop knowledge and skills to initiate, strengthen, and/or sustain the capacity of their own Resident Councils
  • Develop knowledge, skills, and networking connections to build and sustain effective regional coalitions of public housing residents
  • Learn how to become more effective advocates through partnerships with their public housing agencies (PHAs) and other community organizations
  • Learn more about the information and tools available in HUD’s Public Housing Resident Organizing and Participation Toolkit 

Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity to be part of positive change within your community. If you’re interested in participating, please take a moment to complete the registration form here. Your involvement can make a significant impact!

Housing Authority Vacancies 2024

Do you know someone who would make a good board member for your Local Housing Authority? Maybe it’s YOU! Below please see a list of communities where there is a vacancy in the State Appointee seat. If you live in one of these communities, you can apply for the vacant seat at this link.

Here is a quick cheat sheet about Local Housing Authority boards:

IN CITIES

The State Appointee is appointed by the governor

Four board members are appointed by the mayor, including at least one tenant


IN TOWNS

The State Appointee is appointed by the governor

A tenant member is appointed by the selectboard, using the process outlined in this Public Housing Notice

Three board members are elected in a town-wide election

In addition to filling the tenant seats, tenants can run for the board in a town-wide election or be appointed by the governor as the state appointee. There is no limit on how many tenants can serve on the board! Read on below for other updates and most importantly, be sure to enjoy these summer days.

State Appointee Vacancies
Local Housing Authority Boards

The following Local Housing Authorities have an opening for a “State Appointee” on their board. If you live in one of these places, you can apply to join the board! Click here to submit your application, and email info@massunion.org to let us know you have applied. Please also spread the word to others you know in these communities.

1) Amherst

2) Ashburnham

3) Avon

4) Belchertown

5) Brimfield

6) Brookfield

7) Duxbury

8) Franklin County Reg. Housing & Redevelopment II

9) Gardner

10) Great Barrington

11) Hampden

12) Hampshire County Regional

13) Hatfield

14) Holden

15) Holliston

16) Hopkinton

17) Hudson

18) Mattapoisett

19) Maynard

20) Milton

21) Montague

22) Northborough

23) North Brookfield

24) Pepperell

25) Randolph

26) Southbridge

27) Topsfield

28) Templeton

29) Wakefield

30) Ware

31) Wareham

32) Wellfleet

33) Westminster

34) Westwood

35) Williamstown

36) Yarmouth

Network Leader Resources

This page is intended for Network Leaders to access resources specific to their work. However, many of these documents may be of use to residents and outside organizers. Feel free to take our Network Leader Quiz to learn more about LTO regulations in Massachusetts!

Network Leader Quiz

Tenant Participation Funds – $25 Increase Request

On June 7, 2024 new state regulations went into effect. These new regulations include the increase in Tenant Participation Funds from $6/unit/year to $25! That means that after June 7, you can request additional Tenant Participation Funds.

EOHLC has provided this information in Public Housing Notice 2024-07:

“Amended LTO funding is effective June 7, 2024. To receive an increase in funding, LTOs must submit a revised budget for LHA approval that reflects the increase in LTO funding authorized by the revision of 760 CMR 6.09(3)(c). Once an LTO budget is approved by the LHA, the LHA will then disburse the revised LTO funding. The LHA should account for the LTO increase in any budget revision. No action is required if the LTO’s budget would not increase based upon the new per occupied unit funding.”

For example, if your LTO represents 50 units:

    • You should have already received $500 in Tenant Participation Funds.
    • Your new Tenant Participation Funding amount is $1,250 (50 x 25).
    • With your community, create a new budget showing how you will spend the $1,250. See ideas here.
    • Submit the budget to your Housing Authority. Since you already received $500, you will now request $750 additional funds. USE THIS FORM.
    • If need be, show your Housing Authority PHN 2024-07.

Contact us if you encounter problems with this process.

RESOURCES

LTO Budget Template – Must be presented to your community, then the Housing Authority. Your Housing Authority cannot negotiate the amount down.

LTO Budget Template – Midyear Increase Request – Use this form to request funds between June 7, 2024 and the start of your next fiscal year.