SNAP Day of Action: Federal Proposals Threaten Food Access for Millions Across the Country, Including Massachusetts and Neighboring States
CONTACT:
Project Bread: Allison Epstein, 203-915-8364 allison@teakmedia.com
MLRI: Madeline Graf, (857) 241-1745, mgraf@mlri.org
Advocates, food security organizations and partners across the Northeast rally to protect critical food benefits that support local economies and help families buy groceries.
[Massachusetts] — As Congress deliberates a budget reconciliation bill that would drastically cut funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, advocates across the Northeast —including Project Bread, Children’s HealthWatch, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, The Greater Boston Food Bank, Merrimack Valley Food Bank, Worcester County Food Bank, and others —have joined together to raise the alarm.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) Statement Responding to Executive Order 14224
4/1/2025
On Saturday, March 1st 2025, President Trump signed Executive Order 14224 which designated English as the official language of the United States of America. Many have considered this action to be symbolic, but Executive Order 14224 should be understood as a first step in upending federal language access policy by rescinding Executive Order 13166: Improving Access to Services for Persons with Limited English Proficiency. The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute stands with all limited English proficient (LEP) people whose right to equal access to government services and benefits is being jeopardized by this change in federal language access policy.
Shockingly high rents in state subsidized HDIP housing
The Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) subsidizes market rate and luxury projects in Gateway Cities. MLRI has published two extensive reports (Review of the Housing Development Incentive Program (“HDIP”) & Update on the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP): a subsidy for market rate housing) documenting the mostly inequitable results of the millions spent on HDIP. Thus far, HDIP has spent $146 million taxpayer dollars on housing targeted to smaller households with disposable income. And as the affordable housing crisis intensifies and federal cutbacks loom, the state may spend up to another $30 million every year to support only higher priced housing – no affordable units. HDIP owners can set rents at whatever the market will bear. In some Gateway Cities the rents, while mostly above market, are somewhat reasonable. But in others, HDIP rents in subsidized buildings are outrageously high as you can see from this sample. MLRI advocates to reform HDIP as a mixed income program – market rate and deeply affordable.
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) 2025-2026 Legislative Priorities
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) is pleased to present our priorities for the current legislative session.
We are leading, co-leading, or supporting several broad-based coalitions and working directly with community partners and fellow advocates from across the state to advance important priorities that address poverty and create a more just, fair and equitable Commonwealth for all.
The Ongoing Fight for Labor Justice: Honoring Black History Month and Farmworker Rights
The Ongoing Fight for Labor Justice
Honoring Black History Month and Farmworker Rights
As we conclude Black History Month, it’s crucial to reflect on the ongoing struggle for labor justice and the deep-rooted legacy of racism that has shaped labor practices in our country. Throughout history, Black workers have been at the forefront of organizing for fair wages, better working conditions, and respect for all people. Today in Massachusetts and across the nation, this fight for justice continues, particularly in the agricultural sector where many workers are still denied basic labor protections.
150 MA Organizations Urge Congress to Protect Safety Net from Federal Cuts
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) and 149 Massachusetts organizations are standing together to call on the MA Congressional Delegation to forcefully oppose any proposals that would harm critical federal safety net programs. With Congress considering severe cuts to SNAP, Medicaid (MassHealth), and TANF through budget reconciliation, the 150 organizations urge the Delegation to protect and defend our nation’s vital anti-poverty programs, including:
MassProBono.org Relaunches to Connect Massachusetts Lawyers with Those in Need
Boston, MA – February 10, 2025 – MassProBono.org, a vital online resource for lawyers, paralegals, and law students looking to contribute their time to meet the legal needs of vulnerable people across Massachusetts, has been redesigned and updated. Volunteers can now browse more than 60 curated, up-to-date pro bono opportunities from legal aid organizations across the Commonwealth to find projects that match their skills, interests, and availability. The website also features a calendar of training sessions and events aimed at strengthening volunteers’ ability to serve those in need of legal assistance. Mass Pro Bono is managed by the Massachusetts Legal Aid Websites Project, at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI).
Press Statement for Martin Luther King Jr. Day by Georgia Katsoulomitis and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI)
January 2025
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a time for all of us to reflect on Dr. King’s unwavering commitment to justice, equality, and the eradication of poverty. His vision, his dedication and his life’s work drive all of us who fight each day to eliminate poverty, injustice and inequality and to advance racial justice.