The Network’s two eviction priority bills are moving FAST and need your support this week!
On Right to Counsel, please see this action alert from the MA Right to Counsel Advisory Committee (of which the Network is a member):
Your Testimony is Needed THIS Week
We just heard yesterday that Joint Committee on Housing is taking written testimony on the right to counsel pilot bill S. 2785 as of today through this Friday, July 10th at 5 pm. Your written testimony will be critical to make the case that with the lifting of the eviction moratorium in August that a right to counsel pilot is part of a comprehensive housing stability response.
- Your testimony can be short; what is important is that the Housing Committee hears from as many of us as possible. There will be no public hearing, only written testimony will be accepted.
- Tell the Housing Committee in your own words why a right to counsel is important for people in your community to stabilize their housing.
- Address your testimony to Chair Senator Crighton and Chair Representative Honan; see who else is on the Housing Committee.
- Use this S. 2785 fact sheet to include useful information and data in your letter.
- Submit your testimony for S. 2785 to kelly.mallon@mahouse.gov by Friday, July 10th at 4 pm
Please contact me if you need more information.
At the Same Time Urge the Governor to Support Funding for a Right to Counsel
Last week the Massachusetts Right to Counsel Coalition sent a letter to Governor Baker urging him to dedicate $6 million from the state’s Coronavirus Relief Fund to implement an emergency statewide right to counsel eviction pilot program. Please call, email, or tweet Governor Baker so that he hears how urgently his support for funding for a right to counsel pilot program is needed. Use the letter to guide you.
Call the Governor
Constituent Services Main Office (617) 725-4005
Toll-free in Massachusetts (888) 870-7770
Springfield Office (413) 784-1200
TTY (617) 727-3666
Email the Governor
https://www.mass.gov/forms/email-the-governors-office
Tweet the Governor
Here are some sample tweets that will reach the Governor.
- We are urging @MassGovernor to support emergency right to counsel program for low-income residents likely facing housing evictions when moratorium ends. #right2counsel #MassRight2Counsel #mapoli
- In MA, 92% of tenants face eviction without legal representation, while 70% of landlords have lawyers. When the eviction moratorium ends, vulnerable families will face evictions during a pandemic. We need emergency right to counsel. #MassRight2Counsel #mapoli
- Black & Latino families have been disproportionately hit by #COVID19’s housing, health & economic impacts, and will similarly be vulnerable to eviction & homelessness. Ask @MassGovernor to support an emergency right to counsel program. #right2counsel #MassRight2Counsel #mapoli
Thank you for your continued work on this issue!
Annette Duke on Behalf of the RTC Advisory Committee
