At its Fall 2026 Convention, Mass Union will choose one Housing Authority to honor with its first-ever Housing Authority of the Year award.
“We are thrilled to present this honor for the first time,” said Dave Underhill, Mass Union’s Board Chair. “There are many excellent Housing Authorities in Massachusetts. Tenants are eager to show our appreciation for the LHAs who provide sound management, encourage and value tenant participation, and respect all tenants at all times. We invite Mass Union affiliates to nominate their Housing Authority for this award, and we look forward to selecting the winner!”
Nomination Process
Mass Union affiliates are invited to nominate their LHA or another LHA for this award by emailing info@massunion.org by 5pm on August 14, 2026. Please note that the nomination must be made by the affiliate as a whole, not by an individual tenant.
Before submitting your nomination, please read the criteria below. In your email, please “make the case” for why this LHA should win. You can:
- Share your positive experiences with the LHA,
- Include data from the LHA’s Performance Management Review or Tenant Satisfaction Survey (see data for state housing here),
- Provide other information.
Criteria
I. RESPECTFUL
The LHA is consistently respectful toward all tenants, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, language, or any other characteristic. The LHA “treats tenants as human” and shows compassion. Provides robust language access for all tenants.
II. VALUES TENANT INPUT and LOCAL TENANT ORGANIZATIONS
- Sees tenants as partners who hold crucial real-world experience that can inform Housing Authority decisions
- Listens to tenant input and incorporates tenant suggestions in policies, procedures, hiring decisions, and Annual Plans
- Encourages and supports the formation of Local Tenant Organizations
- Respects the integrity of the Local Tenant Organization; i.e. its election results, decisions, and privacy
- Meets with Local Tenant Organizations regularly
- Negotiates a Memorandum of Understanding with the Local Tenant Organization
- Provides Tenant Participation Funds promptly, per regulations
- Allows tenants a meaningful voice at LHA Board Meetings
- Supports Mass Union’s Convention, Public Housing Day, or other events
III. PROVIDES SOUND MANAGEMENT
Tenants understand that LHAs have been underfunded for decades. We wish to recognize the LHAs who provide the best possible stewardship of their assets and income. Tenants pay rent and deserve to live in dignified housing. For example:
- The LHA is accessible and responsive to tenants, including those who do not speak English, providing office hours and responding to inquires in a timely manner.
- Responds to work orders in a timely manner.
- Provides safe, clean housing without rodents, bugs, or mold. Does not allow trash to pile up.
- Provides accurate rent calculations and respectfully responds to all questions regarding the calculation. Provides a transparent process.
- Is transparent with all finances and has a clean financial record.
- Has been recognized by third parties for providing sound management.
- Receives positive findings in its Performance Management Review and Tenant Satisfaction Survey(s).
- Demonstrates effort to meet these criteria, and is moving in the right direction.
Selection Committee
The Selection Committee will be comprised of Mass Union board members, affiliates, staff and partners.
If you are a member of one of our affiliates and would like to join the committee, please email info@massunion.org by Monday, July 27 at 12pm. The Mass Union board will determine the members of the committee at its 1pm meeting that day. Please note:
- If your LHA is nominated for the award, you cannot serve on the committee.
- The committee will meet over Zoom during the week of August 17 to make its decision. You must be available for one or more meetings that week.