• Tenant Defaults in Housing Court Eviction Cases: We will be joined by Andrea Park from Massachusetts Law Reform Institute who will discuss "The Default Project: A Survey of the Reasons for Tenant Defaults in Housing Court Eviction Cases", a new report on evictions from MLRI and the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts.
• Here is a description of the report from the authors: "Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) and the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSEM) have released an innovative report analyzing the high rate of eviction cases where tenants default, or do not appear, at a court hearing. Statewide, tenants are defaulted in nearly 25% of eviction cases, with often disastrous results. The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission, recognizing the high rate of defaults as a significant barrier to access to justice for many of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents, requested data to better understand the reasons for the high default rate and its consequences. In a first of its kind study, MLRI and JCSEM partnered with AmeriCorps Legal Advocates of Massachusetts to canvass and interview hundreds of tenants across Massachusetts to understand the circumstances resulting in a default. Court records of cases included in the study were reviewed to examine the outcomes of cases where tenants were defaulted. This research revealed numerous barriers tenants face when they are sued for eviction, including issues with notice and information about court; language access complications; and employment, health, disability, and childcare complications. The court record analysis reveals that outcomes are bleak for tenants who are defaulted, with nearly 80% of them likely losing possession of their home. Statewide, tenants who face eviction in court are far more likely to reside in communities of color and low-income communities. Overall, tenants in eviction are more likely to have disabilities, speak a primary language other than English, and have less access to technology. This report offers policy recommendations aimed specifically at lowering the rate of tenant defaults, including reducing barriers to court information and procedures and increasing flexibility in court proceedings."
• Read the report here.

• Legal Strategies to Advance Access to Shelter and Equity: We also are scheduled to be joined by Laura Massie of Greater Boston Legal Services who will discuss the importance of lawsuits in advancing access to shelter and equity, with a focus on access to the Emergency Assistance family shelter program.

• Advocating Together for Key Bills for the 2023-2024 Legislative Session: With the deadline for filing timely-filed bills behind us, we will discuss key legislation drafted by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless and our allies, including bills on:
• Codifying and improving the RAFT homelessness prevention program (filed by Rep. Decker and Sen. Crighton)
• Codifying and improving the HomeBASE rehousing program (filed by Rep. Barber and Senator Miranda)
• Improving the Emergency Assistance family shelter and services program (filed by Rep. Decker and Senator Gomez)
• Easing access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness (filed by Rep. O'Day, Rep. Khan, and Senator R. Kennedy)
• Establishing a Bill of Rights for people experiencing homelessness (filed by Rep. Pignatelli and Senator Rausch)
• Improving the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program (filed by Senator Jehlen and Rep. O'Day)
• Allowing cities and towns to enact rent stabilization measures to protect tenants (filed by Rep. D. Rogers, Rep. Montaño, and Senator Jehlen)
• And more!
• See our preliminary 2023-2024 bill priority chart here.

• Pushing for FY23 Supplemental Funds to Improve Shelter and Services for Families and Individuals Experiencing Homelessness, Including Newly Arrived Immigrants

• Planning for Legislative Action Day 2023
• Registration is now open! Learn more and sign up today.

• Advocating to Prevent and End Homelessness with the Healey-Driscoll Administration