The following information will be submitted to our affiliates at our Fall 2024 Convention by Bylaws Committee Chairs Don Hamilton and Nicole Beckles and Mass Union Chair Dave Underhill.

October 19, 2024

Hello from Mass Union! Enclosed please see eleven (11) proposed changes to our bylaws. These changes are offered in the spirit of streamlining and improving Mass Union’s operations so that we can do more to serve you and the thousands of tenants we have not yet reached. We estimate that fewer than 10% of tenants are represented by a tenant organization, so there is a lot of room to grow! All tenants were invited to a webinar to discuss the proposals on September 5, and copies of the proposals were sent via snail mail to our affiliates and to our full mailing list via e-email. To supplement these proposals, Mass Union has developed new Mission, Vision and Values Statements (enclosed), as well as our 2024-2025 Goals and Program Plans (enclosed), as well as new Financial Controls. Thank you to everyone who has participated in this process so far, and we look forward to the democratic voting process.

Voting Instructions

1. 1. Voting will occur during the Fall 2024 Convention Luncheon plenary at approximately 1:45pm on October 19, 2024.
   2. Voting will not include discussion. To discuss the proposals and ask any questions you may have, please attend the morning workshop about the bylaws in the Charles Room.
   3. Per our current bylaws, each community (city or town) will have six votes.
   4. Each community will allocate their six votes for each of the eleven (11) proposed amendments.
   5. Communities may vote yes, no, or abstain.
   6. A majority of votes is needed to pass an amendment. (In the event of a tie, the amendment does not pass.)

Amendment Summaries

1. 1. Housecleaning/Simple Updates: Makes housekeeping updates.
   2. Purpose: Replaces the purpose with our updated mission.
   3. Dissolution: Clarifies how Mass Union’s assets would be distributed in the event of dissolution
   4. Financial: Adds accounting and auditing controls, which are powerful and comprehensive financial controls. Other financial procedures are covered in the new Financial Controls Policy adopted by the Board on September 23, 2024.
   5. Indemnification: Per legal advice, adds standard “indemnification” language so that board, staff and others associated with Mass Union will be reimbursed for legal expenses incurred in association with their role with Mass Union.
   6. Committees: Clarifies procedures for committees.
   7. Programming/Convention Requirement: Substitutes the requirement for two Conventions with one Annual Meeting. Note that Mass Union can and will still offer Conventions.
   8. Board Powers: Makes a variety of clarifications to the board role. Adds term limits, among other changes. Please note that this amendment: Does not change the size of the board or the cadence of elections – Directors will still be elected in odd-numbered years and Officers in even; Does not change the limitation that no more than two people can serve on the board from the same city/town; Does not change the length of board terms (two years).
   9. Board Vacancies: Provides a process for filling board vacancies. Provides that affiliates can nominate individuals to fill vacancies; the board will choose among the nominees by vote.
   10. Board Elections: Makes clarifications to the board election procedures, based on past experience and legal advice.
   11. Affiliate/Community Voting Power: Makes voting by affiliate, rather than community, and provides each affiliate with one vote.

Mass Union’s Values, Vision and Mission

Values

1. 1. 1. Tenant Power – Power should be with the people; the tenants. This is key to everything.
      2. Democracy – We help tenants elect LTO boards and the Mass Union board is elected by our affiliates. We use the Dot Exercise to make decisions and train members to do so as well. Democracy also means that tenants must have the opportunity to participate in the decision-making that impacts their lives at all levels – the Housing Authority, the state, and the nation.
      3. Radical Inclusion – ALL tenants are welcome and crucial for our network, regardless of race, ethnicity, ability, age, language, citizenship, religion, or anything else. We take steps to ensure that all are welcome and included.
      4. Transparency – We share information with our affiliates, such as our budgets and decision-making processes. Our member LTOs do the same.
      5. Fairness – Everyone plays by the same rules. We create the rules together and enact them fairly. We oppose a system where certain tenants get special treatment by their LHAs, by Mass Union itself, or in any other context.
      6. Impact – We want real-world results. Public housing needs to be fixed. We want to see tangible improvements to the quality of life in public housing.
      7. Dignity – In everything we do, we strive to be kind and compassionate with each other. We treat each other with dignity, especially when the rest of the world does not.
      8. Unity – Once we reach a group decision, it is respected by all and we speak with one voice. We don’t have to be best friends, but we understand that in order to win change, we need each other. Spaghetti Power!

Vision

We envision…

…a world without homelessness, racism or classism;
~ Where housing is a human right,
~ Where all housing is safe, sanitary and dignified,
~ And where all people participate in the decision-making that impacts their lives.
…a Massachusetts where public housing is fully funded,
~ And that enhances and enforces tenant rights and protections.
… public housing communities that are safe, inclusive, cohesive and beautiful,
~ Where all tenants are informed, empowered, heard, respected, and valued.

Mission Statement

The Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants is a nonprofit run by tenants for tenants. Our mission is to build power and voice for tenants so that we may effectively improve public housing in Massachusetts.

Mass Union’s 2024-2025 Goals and Program Plans

Goal 1: Win Change

1. 1. 1. Use the “Blueprint for Change” for Local Improvements: The Blueprint for Change was created by tenants for tenants so that Local Tenant Organizations can identify and fight for the changes they want. Whether you want a handicapped button on the front door, a new grievance policy, respectful treatment by staff, access to the community room, or anything else – this Blueprint will help you get it.
      2. Advance our Statewide Policy Agenda: Mass Union worked on nine priorities in the 2023-2024 legislative cycle, and we are proud to report significant progress in almost all of them. This fall we will adopt new priorities and advance them through our policy committee, which is made up of affiliates, board, staff, other tenants, and legal aid partners.
      3. Lobby Day Spring 2025! Lobby Day 2024 was a hit! One week after we were in the statehouse, the House released its bond bill with an additional $500 million allocated for public housing. Let’s go back in 2025 and see what we can accomplish this time!

Goal 2: Expand and Diversify our Network

Mass Union is building a network so that tenants can connect directly with each other for learning, support, and advocacy. No one knows this work better than you. With key leadership from our board and Network Leaders, we are providing training, technical assistance, regional roundtables, and more so that our affiliates can lead great LTOs and win the changes we need.

1. 1. Conventions: Mass Union loves Conventions! Whether or not they are required by the bylaws, we can and will still offer this crucial opportunity for in-person learning and connection. The tentative plan is a multi-day Fall 2025 Convention.
   2. Year-Round Trainings and Webinars: Mass Union is now offering many of the trainings that were once offered by the Mel King Institute. Don’t miss our Zoom or in-person trainings and webinars.
   3. Regional Roundtables: Each Network Leader offers at least one online Roundtable for tenants in their region per quarter. Make sure you are hooked up with your region!
   4. Radical Inclusion: In all things, Mass Union is committed to including everyone in our work, and we are committed to reaching those who are not yet part of our community, such as tenants who speak neither English nor Spanish.

Goal 3: Continue to Shore up our Organizational Foundation

In 2024 we received important advice from strategic consultants to continue shoring up our organizational foundation. This means expanding and diversifying our funding sources. It also means adopting updated mission, vision and values statements; updating our bylaws; and investing in board development. All this is underway and promises to bring our work to even greater levels of impact.

Read More

1. 1. Summary of Eleven (11) Proposed Bylaws Amendments
   2. PDF “redlined” version that shows the proposed changes in color
   3. Word “clean” version that has all the proposals incorporated