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.
In honor of Black History month, I would be remiss if I did not mention that before he passed, the great civil rights leader Congressman John Lewis described access to the internet as the civil rights issue of the 21st century. Congressman Lewis, as many people today, recognized that without access to the transformational power of the internet, people - especially Black and other people of color - will be left out of opportunities and left behind progress.
BOSTON, MA (Jan. 9, 2024) - The Lift Our Kids Coalition will rally on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 11 AM to voice its shock and dismay at Governor Healey’s cuts to cash assistance. The Governor eliminated an urgently needed 10% increase to cash assistance that was scheduled to start on April 1.
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.
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