We’ve got a key Joint Housing Committee hearing coming up on June 26, providing a critical opportunity to push on a few of our key bills:
- RAFT Improvements – to allow access to these eviction prevention funds PRIOR to a Notice to Quit and more – see Mass. Coalition for the Homeless (MCH) factsheet
- HomeBASE Improvements for the rehousing program for families – see MCH factsheet
- Supportive housing flexible funding program to create MORE of it – see Supportive Housing Coalition factsheet
- and many public housing bills – to see the entire list of bills being heard please go to the hearing page.
You can testify virtually or in person or submit written testimony. It ALL makes a difference. To testify, you must submit this form by 5 p.m. on Thursday, June 22. To submit written testimony, please email it to Luke O’Roark at luke.oroark@mahouse.gov and Christianna Golden at christianna.golden@masenate.gov.
To see sample testimony, check out the Network’s recent testimony at prior hearings below – but to be clear, even a single paragraph on why any of these bills matter to you is what counts. Getting your experience and perspective – either direct or indirect – is what the Committee members need to hear.
The Network’s recent testimony includes:
Access to Counsel in Evictions
Access to MA ID for People Experiencing Homelessness
The Bill of Rights for People Experiencing Homelessness; and
Improvements to the Emergency Assistance System
Finally, the Network was represented and spoke at the legislative briefing on the Local Option Transfer Fee for Affordable Housing and rallied at the State House for the Local Option for Rent Control and the Foreclosure Prevention Program.
Western Massachusetts is getting heard. Let’s get even louder!
