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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

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

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. 

June 4: Good News! Bond Bill Updates

May 9: Mass Union Letter to Chair Michlewitz about the Affordable Homes Act (PDF)

April 19: Action Alert: Increase Funding for State Public Housing

March 5: Mass Union Letter to Chair Michlewitz about the FY25 State Budget (PDF)

January 26: New Public Housing Notice Gives Tenants More Voice

January 26: Mass Union and Legal Aid’s Comment on proposed changes to 760 CMR 6.00 (PDF)

January 25: Mass Union Statement on the Governor’s FY25 Budget Proposal

January 19: Mass Union Written Testimony on the Affordable Homes Act (PDF)

January 18: Watch Mass Union Testify at the Affordable Homes Act Hearing

January 15, 2024: 760 CMR Update

December 22, 2023: Policy Update: Good Things are Happening

December 1, 2023: Mass Union’s Letter to Governor Healey RE the FY25 Budget (PDF)

October 18, 2023: Mass Union Statement on the Affordable Homes Act

On Monday June 3, the House Ways and Means Committee released its version of the Bond Bill (aka the Affordable Homes Act). The House is expected to pass it on Wednesday, June 5, and then it will move on to the Senate. The House made changes to the bill, three of which impact public housing:

1. 1. The House added $500 million for capital repairs in state housing! This brings their proposal up to a total of TWO BILLION DOLLARS for the backlog of capital needs. Yes, that’s billion with a “b”! While there are still hurdles to get through before we see this money in our communities, it is great news that the House has increased the amount. No one understands the need for capital repairs better than you. Thank you again for making your voices heard.
   2. Stronger tenant protections during Redevelopment. As you may recall, the Bond Bill includes important protections for tenants who are facing redevelopment. The House made these protections even stronger, and ensured that tenants will not need to be rescreened when they come back to their homes after redevelopment.
   3. The LHA merger section has been removed. The original bill included a section that would make it easier for Housing Authorities to merge with each other. This language appears to be gone from the new version. (Mass Union’s board and policy committee had suggested that this section be strengthened to protect tenants.)

We will closely watch all three provisions as the bill is debated in the House and then moves to the Senate. We will let you know how you can take action for tenants soon. Stay tuned!