Statement in Support of the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Call to Action for Families Experiencing Homelessness, Appeal for Coordinated State Action
The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless (MCH), Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), and the undersigned organizations support the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s efforts to expand resources for shelter, housing, and other resources for families experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts. We affirm the Administration’s commitment to preserving access to the Commonwealth’s Emergency Assistance family shelter system for all eligible families with children. We are also grateful for the broad call to action to support newly arrived immigrant families. We stand ready to share our knowledge and assistance in these efforts in the days and weeks ahead, and we offer key recommendations today.
MLRI Launches New Website to Connect MassHealth Beneficiaries and their Advocates to Resources
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) has launched a new website, MassHealthProject.org, for its MassHealth Monitoring Project. The purpose of the project is to monitor MassHealth redeterminations and provide MassHealth beneficiaries and their advocates with the tools and resources to maintain their MassHealth coverage or successfully transition to other affordable coverage.
Conference Budget Includes 10% Cash Assistance Increase Starting April 2024
For Immediate Release
Media Contact
NASW-MA: Rebekah Gewirtz | rgewirtz.naswma@socialworkers.org | 617.645.4773
BOSTON, MA (July 31, 2023) – The Massachusetts FY 24 budget includes a 10 percent increase in cash assistance benefits starting April 2024, marking another historic step forward for families in Deep Poverty. This is the fourth increase in four years after decades of frozen benefit levels. These successive increases demonstrate our legislative leaders’ moral commitment to our most vulnerable children, older adults, and people with disabilities.
MLRI to Honor Dr. Michael Curry, Esq. at 2023 Catalyst for Change Event on October 10
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Allie Girouard
agirouard@mlri.org | (617) 357-0700 x 305
BOSTON, July 27, 2023 – Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) will be honoring Dr. Michael Curry, Esq. with the 2023 Catalyst for Change award at a reception on October 10, 2023 at the UMass Club in Boston.
SCOTUS Decision Perpetuates Systemic Barriers to Opportunity
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is deeply disappointed in yesterday’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College. Although the ruling was not unexpected, the upending of decades of precedent is once again shocking. This decision is a setback in the progress that has been made to increase educational and economic opportunity for communities of color who have been historically and presently excluded from so many opportunities, most notably opportunities of educational and economic advancement.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and National Association of Social Workers-MA Applaud the Healey Administration for Providing Substantial Funds to Streamline Access to Safety Net Programs
For Immediate Release:
Media Contacts
MLRI: Pat Baker | pbaker@mlri.org | 617.357.0700 ext. 328
NASW-MA: Rebekah Gewirtz | rgewirtz.naswma@socialworkers.org | 617.645.4773
New Funding from Administration will Realize Promise of Common Application Law and Improve Access to Critical Safety-net Benefits for all Low-Income Massachusetts Residents
Boston, MA (June 22, 2023) — Today, the Healey Administration announced $40 million in federal and state funding to implement the law promoted and passed in 2022 that would streamline access to core safety net programs. Legislation passed in August of 2022, Chapter 174 of the Acts of 2022, directed the Administration to create a Common Application for SNAP, MassHealth, cash assistance, childcare and housing subsidies, fuel assistance, and other needs-tested benefits and today this funding infusion will ensure the state can reach this goal.
Brown Rudnick and MLRI Win Ruling for Massachusetts Families
BOSTON, June 15, 2023 – Brown Rudnick and the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) obtained a favorable ruling for children and families in a lawsuit filed against the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF).
In this case, a Superior Court justice found that DCF had violated the due process rights of a mother when it denied her the right to an agency hearing to challenge DCF’s finding of a “substantiated concern” that she had neglected her child.