I hope everyone is safe in the snowstorm. Special thanks to our shelter providers, outreach workers and city and town leaders and staff across the region for their extraordinary efforts to keep people safe.
Please see this action alert from the Homes for All MA Coalition with regard to the anti-eviction provisions in the FY21 budget. The Legislature passed some important protections, which the Governor weakened through proposed amendments (go here for more detailed information).
Your single email TODAY to these leaders will make a difference:
Please contact:
Senate President Karen Spilka: karen.spilka@masenate.gov
House Speaker DeLeo: robert.deleo@mahouse.gov
Joint Housing Committee Chairs:
Rep. Kevin Honan: kevin.honan@mahouse.gov;
Senator Brendan Crighton: brendan.crighton@masenate.gov
And copy your own State Senator and Representative (find your legislator here)
Our message:
Thank you for your important steps to protect tenants from eviction during this pandemic. PLEASE RESTORE THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OUTSIDE SECTIONS 79 & 80 to ensure the Legislature’s protections stay in place.
Please STRENGTHEN Section 79 so that the notice of resources to tenants includes information about the COVID Eviction Legal Help Project (CELHP) and the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) is required to share notice to quit information with CELHP so legal advocates can connect tenants to rental assistance.
Please AMEND BOTH PROVISIONS to apply to all reasons for eviction, not “solely non-payment of rent.” Cases based on unpaid rent can be brought to court as “no-fault” (with a claim for rent included) and escape the intended protection altogether. The language should read “an eviction where rent is sought” to accomplish the intended goal.
Finally, please contact the Governor’s Office to make clear your opposition to his amendments.
The reality is that even in their stronger form, these measures still leave thousands of tenants at risk of eviction. Let’s make these protections happen, an important step forward, and we will continue the work for greater housing stability in 2021.
Thanks for your fast action!
