Publications
This handbook provides practical information about tenants’ rights in private housing — housing that is owned by an individual or a privately-owned company.
An indispensable handbook for all who need to know about the SNAP program in Massachusetts.
This Guide answers questions about applications, eligibility, benefits, and appeals in the unemployment insurance (UI) process.
An Advocate’s Guide to the Massachusetts Welfare Rules for Families
This Guide helps advocates through the maze of Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) rules and regulations.
A Guide to Emergency Shelter and Rehousing Services for Homeless Families with Children in Massachusetts
This Guide leads advocates and homeless families through the rules governing eligibility for Emergency Assistance.
An Advocate’s Guide to the Massachusetts ConnectorCare Program
This Guide is designed for advocates helping low- and moderate-income clients who are not eligible for MassHealth, but may qualify for the ConnectorCare program.
This Guide is designed to assist low-income residents and their advocates in navigating government-funded housing programs in Massachusetts.
Discover MLRI’s impact in 2025 through our report, ‘When Communities Rise, Justice Follows.’ Learn more about the impact of community-driven advocacy and the progress we made in partnership with those most affected.
by Judith Liben
The state has spent or reserved a total of $192.5 million in tax credits for developers of more than 6,500 market-rate and luxury units in Gateway Cities through the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP). Despite the urgent need for affordable housing and as we face federal cutbacks and a challenging state fiscal outlook, the Commonwealth continues to award or reserve up to $30 million annually for HDIP projects. In 2024 and 2025 alone, $102 million was committed – none for affordable housing. The central question we raised in 2024 therefore remains: why is the state spending precious resources on high end housing? We urge the Administration and the Legislature to reform HDIP so that it includes a good share of housing for low-income residents. For further information, see the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute’s 2022 HDIP Report and the 2025 HDIP Update.
by Vicky Negus and Pat Baker
Protecting and maximizing participation in SNAP benefits low-income residents, grocers, farmers, and our economy. SNAP accounts for $1 of every $5 dollars spent at Massachusetts grocery stores (20% of grocer sales). SNAP improves health outcomes and reduces health-care costs. Maximizing SNAP also protects access to universal free school meals. The Commonwealth can improve payment accuracy while also reducing hunger by investing in DTA’s workforce and connecting all eligible families with very low incomes to SNAP.
This report highlights the barriers faced by limited English proficient and Deaf and hard of hearing individuals to accessing justice through the Massachusetts Trial Courts, and outlines key recommendations for improvement. The Courts and Language Access Working Group (CLAWG) engaged impacted court users, attorneys and advocates who work with court users, and court watch volunteers to conduct research.
Learn why preserving NOAH is crucial to solving Massachusetts’ affordable housing crisis and how we can protect these vital homes from investor-driven displacement.
Discover MLRI’s impact in 2024 through our ‘Advocacy in Action’ report. Learn how we’ve championed justice, defended vulnerable communities, and driven meaningful change across Massachusetts.
Being Heard explores the barriers that non-English speakers face when trying to communicate with MassHealth, and offers concrete recommendations for improvement.
The report documents the extreme scarcity and need for low cost rentals in Fall River and the city’s failure to develop affordable housing while prioritizing and supporting the boom in market rate and luxury projects.