Way to go Western Massachusetts!
Our State Legislators, local officials and community leaders have come together to send a clear message to the Housing Committee at its public hearing on the COVID-19 Housing Equity bill TOMORROW Thursday, August 12: urgent action on this bill is critical to protect thousands of Western Massachusetts residents and homeowners from the threat of eviction and foreclosure.
A huge thank you to our Western Massachusetts Legislators (20 strong!) who signed this letter to the Joint Housing Committee Chairs. They made their position clear: “As the more aggressive Delta variant surges and the COVID numbers tick up across the Commonwealth, we believe it is the state’s duty to act immediately to protect our constituents. The COVID-19 Housing Equity Bill will provide that protection.”
Western Massachusetts’ local leaders, including the Mayors of Northampton, Greenfield, Easthampton, Pittsfield and North Adams and the Springfield City Council joined in this call for eviction protection in a letter to the Legislature and the Governor organized by Homes for All MA and signed by close to 150 organizations statewide and close to 50 organizations in Western Massachusetts alone, including all four of Western Massachusetts’ community colleges, all four of our MassHire career centers, and all four of our United Way affiliates as well as major health centers such as Baystate Health, Trinity Health New England and Cooley Dickinson Hospital and so many more of you. We are SHOWING UP.
Here’s what you can do to press further:
- Call/email to thank your legislator: please use this Homes for All Tool so our actions can be counted as part of the larger statewide campaign;
- Join the 150 organizations if you haven’t already by signing on to this Homes for All letter urging adoption of this bill;
- Submit written testimony by THIS FRIDAY, August 13 at 5 pm in support of the bill. Email testimony to luke.oroark@mahouse.gov anytime before 5 pm on Friday. Use these talking points or template if it’s useful to you (but feel free to use your own words!)
Thanks for your amazing partnership – let’s keep it up!
