News

La Colaborativa, the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition praise food assistance for families at a time of need

BOSTON, MA: Members of the Feeding Our Neighbors Coalition, formed in January 2023 to address the basic unmet needs of legally present low income immigrant families in Massachusetts, lauded the General Court and Governor for passing a Supplemental Budget on December 4th that provides $6 million in state funding to restore basic benefits to legal immigrants ineligible for federal benefits.

In October, MassHealth submitted a Section 1115 Demonstration waiver amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which included, among other things, a request to spend federal money on shelter and other assistance for MassHealth families experiencing homelessness currently in the Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter program. If approved, this would bring significant federal money into the EA shelter system which could be used for shelter costs and supportive health-related services for MassHealth members.

Boston (November 13, 2023) – Tenants, community organizers, municipal leaders, developers,  and other experts will testify tomorrow in front of the Joint Committee on Housing in support of ​S.880/H.1350, An Act to guarantee a tenant’s first right of refusal. The Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act (TOPA) would allow cities and towns the local option of providing tenants in multi-family buildings the right to match a third-party offer when their homes are being sold. Tenants can designate their rights to a non-profit or local housing authority, or partner with an affordable housing purchaser.

Mass Pro Bono, an online resource for legal professionals who want to give their time to meet the legal needs of people with low incomes in Massachusetts, has been updated with a variety of opportunities just in time for Pro Bono Week. On Mass Pro Bono (www.massprobono.org), volunteers can search among more than 50 organizations across the Commonwealth to find a pro bono opportunity that suits their skills, interests, and availability.  Individuals can also find a calendar of trainings and other pro bono related events, as well as a resource library focusing on key legal areas of need. Mass Pro Bono is managed by the Massachusetts Legal Aid Websites Project at the Mass Law Reform Institute. 

The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (MCH), Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), and Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) are deeply concerned about Monday’s announcement from the Healey-Driscoll Administration that they plan to curtail access to the state’s Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter program. For four decades, Massachusetts has honored the right to shelter for eligible families with children who are experiencing homelessness. We must continue to uphold that right as the Commonwealth navigates the ongoing housing crisis and the arrival of many immigrant families fleeing political upheaval, gang violence, natural disasters, and extreme poverty.

BOSTON, MA (October 10, 2023) – On Wednesday, the Lift Our Kids Coalition submitted a 73-page packet of written testimony to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities from supporters of bills to Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty (H.144/S.75) on Wednesday.  The Committee heard oral testimony a month ago.  The packet includes testimony from 23 organizations and two individuals, sharing examples of how low cash assistance grant levels harm families and children in communities across Massachusetts and urging the Committee to act on the bills, which would set a floor for cash assistance at 50% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and commit to increases in grants to keep pace with inflation. 

Leaders of the Mass Speaks coalition, including Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Massachusetts Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, and Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts, LLC joined forces with community members to testify in support of making state government more equitable and accessible by expanding the capacity of public facing state agencies to serve limited English proficient state residents. 

Written by MLRI Board Member, John Carroll, for Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly

In the heady days of the mid-1960s, President Lyndon Johnson initiated the “War on Poverty.” Unfortunately, he was also waging a war in Vietnam. The country could not effectively or affordably engage in both wars at the same time. As a result, both wars suffered.

The War on Poverty enjoyed more success, even though spotty. One of its crowning successes, and one of its most durable, was the creation of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute in the late 1960s.