Spring Advocacy Updates
Our advocates know that meaningful change takes time – a win today only leads to change tomorrow if advocacy is ongoing.
Whether it is the restoration of state-funded food benefits for immigrants or the creation of access to counsel in eviction cases, when we take on issues, we are making a long-term commitment.
The successes we’ve had in the past few months are the result of that committed advocacy – and will be the catalyst for more wins down the road. Thank you for joining us on this journey towards justice.
State-funded SNAP for immigrants launched
From 1997 to 2002, the Massachusetts legislature provided state-funded food benefits (SNAP) and cash assistance (TAFDC and EAEDC) to immigrants cut off from federal benefits. Most of those state-funded benefits ended in 2002. The Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition has been advocating to restore these basic benefits for Massachusetts immigrant residents.
On December 4, 2023 the Massachusetts Legislature passed and Governor Healey signed into law a supplemental budget that included $6M in funding for legally present immigrants to qualify for state-funded SNAP benefits. The Department of Transitional Assistance is now issuing state SNAP, and MLRI has created resources to explain and connect eligible families to the new program. The Coalition is pushing for continued funding in the FY25 State Budget to extend these critical benefits.
On February 7, 2024, the Joint Committee for Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities gave a favorable report to the Coalition’s legislation to restore critical safety-net benefits to legally present immigrants living in Massachusetts, An Act establishing basic needs assistance for Massachusetts immigrant residents (H.135, S.76).
Funding for Access to Counsel included in Governor’s FY25 budget proposal
In January, Governor Healey included a line item in her FY25 budget proposal that appropriated $3.5 million for access to counsel in Massachusetts. In addition, the Judiciary Committee reported the Access to Counsel bill out of committee favorably. The bill provides the necessary framework for an Access to Counsel program while the line-item provides the funding – and now advocates are pushing for the legislature to pass both in tandem. Read Yvonne Abraham’s column on Access to Counsel.
MLRI calls on Congress to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program
In response to the state’s revenue shortfall, the Governor eliminated an urgently needed 10% increase to cash assistance that was scheduled to start on April 1. The Lift Our Kids Coalition has been advocating for the Governor to rescind these cuts. They held a rally outside the State House on January 11. MLRI Senior Economic Justice Attorney Deborah Harris went on WBUR’s Radio Boston to discuss what the canceled boost to benefits means for program recipients.
Lift Our Kids also held a lobby day on February 15 to urge legislators to write a 20% increase in Transitional Assistance to Families with Dependent Children benefits into the FY 2025 budget. Read coverage of the lobby day in GBH.
Report on MassHealth Estate Recovery released
On February 7, the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation released a report on MassHealth estate recovery – a practice where states recoup costs from certain Medicaid members’ estates if they received long-term services and supports, such as care in a nursing facility or at home. The report includes profiles written by MLRI Senior Health Law Attorney Victoria Pulos that tell the stories of how estate recovery has impacted four individuals in Massachusetts after the loss of a loved one.
Secretary of Housing Ed Augustus visits Devenscrest
In recent years, a developer called “Brady Sullivan Properties” quietly bought up an entire neighborhood in Ayer Massachusetts, and now owns the apartment homes of over 100 families. The developer announced plans to double the rents and evict the current residents. When some residents received no-cause eviction notices in 2021, Devenscrest residents joined together to form the Devenscrest Tenants Association (DCTA).
MLRI advises DCTA and Northeast Legal Aid represents the tenants in their individual eviction cases. In December, all the no-cause eviction cases were dismissed. But the fight isn’t over – DCTA is working with an affordable housing developer who has offered to buy the property from Brady Sullivan in order to keep the rents affordable over the long-term.
On January 30, Secretary of Housing Ed Augustus visited Devenscrest and met with DCTA leaders. DCTA leaders shared their stories and highlighted how Devenscrest is an example of the loss of naturally-occurring affordable housing (housing that is affordable without a subsidy), which is happening at a rapid rate across the state. Read about DCTA in MassLive.
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