MassProBono.org Highlights Volunteer Opportunities for Pro Bono Week
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.
Organizations Call on the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Legislature to Protect the Right to Shelter and Urgently Expand Housing Opportunities
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.
Lift Our Kids Coalition Urges Legislature to Raise Cash Assistance Grants and Commit to Cost of Living Increases
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 Mass Speaks Coalition Testify on Expanding Non-English Language Resources Across State Agencies
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.
A Brief History of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
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.
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.