Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, with 116+ Organizations, Urge the Trial Courts and Legislature to Extend Eviction Prevention Measures
For Immediate Release: March 20, 2023
Contact: Christine Dunn
christine@sevenletter.com | 617.646.1044
Law set to expire March 31st, failure to extend would increase avoidable evictions, cause loss of housing and homelessness, reduce rental assistance payments to landlords
Boston, MA (March 20, 2023)– Massachusetts Law Reform Institute and Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, together with 116 other organizations and municipal officials from across the Commonwealth, sent a letter on Friday to Massachusetts Trial Court leaders, state legislative leaders, and legislators, asking them to extend “Chapter 257” eviction prevention measures. Chapter 257 was enacted to pause eviction cases for tenants with pending rental assistance applications in order to preserve tenancies and maximize rental assistance payments to landlords. The endorsing organizations are urging the Massachusetts Trial Courts and the Massachusetts Legislature to take immediate action to extend Chapter 257 beyond the current March 31st expiration date.
MLRI’s SNAP Online Calculator Has Been Used 4,000+ Times in 2023
MLRI’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) online calculator has been used over 4,000 times since the start of 2023.
SNAP is a federal nutrition program that provides eligible households with monthly funds to buy food. The amount a household receives depends on household size, income, and certain allowable expenses. MLRI’s online calculator helps potential Massachusetts SNAP recipients and community advocates estimate the monthly SNAP benefits amount a household may receive. The calculator provides a quick check on whether a household is eligible for SNAP and whether they are getting the correct amount.
La Colaborativa and Massachusetts Law Reform Institute to Host Launch Event for the Feeding Our Neighbors Campaign
The event will take place at La Colaborativa’s Food Pantry in Chelsea on Wednesday, Feb. 15th at 3:30 pm.
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Christine Dunn, Seven Letter
christine@sevenletter.com
617.646.1044
Chelsea, MA (February 13, 2023) – La Colaborativa and The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute announced that they will be hosting an event to launch their Feeding Our Neighbors campaign on Wednesday, February 15th at 3:30pm. The campaign’s purpose is twofold: to raise awareness to the plight of the immigrant community who lack access to basic needs and benefits, and to highlight the need for both legislation and funding to restore basic food and cash assistance benefits for legally present immigrants.
Our 2023 Legislative Priorities
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.
From advocating for bills that promote housing justice, to increasing cash assistance for extremely low-income children and families, to ensuring that state agencies comply with language access laws, our policy agenda is focused on removing barriers to opportunity, promoting racial equity, and ensuring that every individual in our state lives in dignity and has every chance to thrive.
MLRI Applauds Governor Healey’s Investment in Low-Income Families, Asks Legislature to Quickly Pass Supplemental Budget
Boston MA (January 31, 2023) – The supplemental budget for fiscal year 2023 filed yesterday by Governor Healey takes three major steps towards reducing hunger for Massachusetts families.
ADVISORY: State Legislators, Advocates to Hold Press Conference in Support of Legislation Expanding Non-English Language State Resources
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Alex Psilakis
apsilakis@melwoodglobal.com
(508) 641-9761
BOSTON, MA – A coalition of policymakers, immigrant rights advocates, and directly-impacted individuals will host a press conference next Wednesday to advocate for the expansion of non-English language resources in the state’s public-facing state agencies: a move that would empower hundreds of thousands of limited English proficient speakers in Massachusetts.
Bills Filed to Lift Kids Out of Deep Poverty By 2024 – Campaign Launch Event January 26
For Immediate Release
Media Contact:
Christine Dunn, Seven Letter
christine@sevenletter.com
617.646.1044
BOSTON, MA (January 18, 2023) – The Lift Our Kids Coalition today announced that Representative Marjorie Decker (D-Cambridge) and Senator Sal DiDomenico (D-Everett) have accelerated the timetable for lifting kids out of Deep Poverty with the filing of House and Senate bills (HD 507, SD 501) at the start of the 2023-2024 legislative session. A launch event will be held Thursday, January 26, 2023 at 2:00 PM in the State House, Room 428.
New Report Surveys the Reasons for Tenant Defaults in Housing Court Eviction Cases
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) and the Justice Center of Southeast Massachusetts (JCSEM) have released an innovative report analyzing the high rate of eviction cases where tenants default, or do not appear, at a court hearing. Statewide, tenants are defaulted in nearly 25% of eviction cases, with often disastrous results. The Massachusetts Access to Justice Commission, recognizing the high rate of defaults as a significant barrier to access to justice for many of the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable residents, requested data to better understand the reasons for the high default rate and its consequences.