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Dear Friends and Colleagues,
In this newsletter:
- "Two Americas;"
- a letter from Carol Leary;
- information about our food stamps;
- and about the threat to our housing.
Two Americas
There are two Americas. One America believes we are all part
of the same community, sharing the same destiny, with
liberty and justice for all. One America believes we are all
equal in rights and in humanity, and we willingly share with
those who need help and consideration so they can reach
their full potential. We willingly share with those
challenged by disability, age, or poverty.
The other America is selfish. If people do not appear to be
youthful, able bodied and wealthy, the other America doesn't
care about them. The other America is unwilling to share
common wealth or public resources. For this other America,
bullying is its natural course of action: to get their way.
Today, the selfish, other America is bullying everyone. The
shutdown of the government is hurting the country,
eliminating essential services, putting hard working and
dedicated federal workers into financial distress.
Moreover, we who live in public and subsidized housing are
also facing threats.
Will landlords, who depend on HUD subsidies to fund our
housing, be able to continue? Will they demand that we pay
the full market rate rent?
Will the food stamps we rely on to get through the month be
shut off?
Let's fight for our rights
Tell Senator Markey. Tell Senator Warren.
Tell your own federal representative:
"This has gone too far!"
SENATOR MARKEY
https://www.markey.senate.gov/office-locations with phone numbers
Boston office at 617-565-8519
SENATOR WARREN
https://www.warren.senate.gov/contact/shareyouropinion
https://www.warren.senate.gov/contact/office-locations
Boston Phone: (617) 565-3170
Springfield Phone: (413) 788-2690
FOOD STAMPS
Here is information from Mass Law Reform Institute:
February food stamps are OK, we don't know about March yet.
The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) will be
issuing February SNAP EARLY - between January 17th and 20th.
Just like all normal SNAP payments, this SNAP does not
expire and will remain on the card until the household uses
it.
We encourage those who need to take action on their SNAP
cases (such as an Interim Report or Recertification) to take
action as soon as possible. After January 20th, DTA will be
processing cases as normal -but due to lack of clarity about
funding on the federal level, it is important for SNAP
households to do outstanding paperwork as soon as possible.
DTA is working very hard to be clear with SNAP households
about this massive and unprecedented early issuance.
Billions in food stamp payments to come early because of
shutdown https://www.politico.com/story/2019/01/11/shutdown-
food-stamp-scramble-benifits-1081210
Massachusetts, information for SNAP/foodstamps
https://www.mass.gov/alerts/important-information-about-the-
partial-federal-government-shutdown-0#1072201
HUD (Department of Housing & Urban Development)
Leaders of the National Alliance of HUD Tenants Demand Senate Act NOW to Save 3.4 Million Elderly, Disabled and Families from Homelessness
Elected leaders of the national US tenants union today
demanded immediate passage by the US Senate of the FY 19
THUD Appropriations Bill to halt an “imminent catastrophe”
of mass displacement should the shutdown last through
February.
“Trump’s shutdown has already lasted close to a month,” said
Geraldine Collins, 63, a disabled, retired medical
administrator and President of the NAHT Board who lives in
senior housing on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. “If it lasts
another month, there will be NO FUNDS to keep 3.4 million
low income seniors, people with disabilities and families
with children in their homes. We call on the Senate to pass
the HUD Appropriations bill NOW to SAVE OUR HOMES!”
Collins noted that on Friday, January 11, Trump threatened
to continue the shutdown even if he builds the Wall by
emergency decree. Added Collins: “Trump tried to cut the
Section 8 budget by 10% the past two years, but Congress
wouldn’t let him. We have to ask: Is Trump using his
shutdown to attack Section 8 tenants, by other means?”
Trump’s Chief of Staff, Mulvaney, publicly embraced the
Heritage Foundation’s plan to phase out HUD rental housing
over 10 years and began to implement this goal as Trump’s
Budget Director. “Congress needs to call Trump’s bluff and
fully fund HUD rental housing now.”
On Monday, January 7, HUD announced that no funds are
currently available to renew 1,150 Section 8 contracts that
expired in December 2018 and January 2019, or another 550
contracts that expire in February 2019. An estimated 100,000
low income households already face repair and service
cutbacks, rent increases and displacement.
Worse, another 21,150 Section 8 contracts housing 1.1
million low income renters have been funded only through
February. In addition, HUD does not have funds to continue
subsidies after February for 2.2 million more Section 8
Voucher recipients, administered by local housing
authorities.
HUD typically pays more than 2/3 of the operating costs to
private landlords in Section 8 housing. If Congress does not
fund HUD past February 2019, owners could attempt to
terminate the leases low income tenants unable to pay rents
three or four times what they pay today, to cover operating
costs.
From Carol Leary
I am writing to you about the bill we have been working on & which will be taken up in this session of the General Court. Sponsored by Senator Joan Lovely & Rep Brad Hill, it has already had interest from other legislators. We still need other legislators to support the bill & hope that you will add your voices by telephone call & email or any other method you choose. We all know how important it is for our elected representatives to hear from us in numbers.
AN ACT RELATIVE TO BULLYING IN HOUSING
A Bill Protecting Elderly Persons and Persons With Disability From Bullying, Mobbing, and Hostile Environment Harassment in Multifamily Subsidized and Public Housing
Who does not support the rights of the elderly & persons with disabilities to live in peace in their homes, without perpetual harassment? A recent survey by Governor Baker's Commission On Bullying shows, however, that this is not guaranteed. This bill provides for the establishment of a new, Commonwealth-wide office which would take complaints, explore them & recommend legal action where indicated.
Aren't the elderly already covered by state agencies in these matters? No. They fall between the proverbial cracks. Aren't persons with disabilities adequately covered by state agencies in these matters? No. In the very few cases which do get to court, plaintiffs typically bring cases against family members & have financial wherewithal to do so.
We are interested in complaints by people living in subsidized housing, usually without financial ability to file a motion or the most basic knowledge of courts, procedures or how to begin to seek assistance. They may also be isolated & fearful because of ongoing ill treatment.
I am hopeful that, as private citizens, you will contact your state senators & reps to encourage them to sign on to this bill, then vote it up when it is proposed. Likewise, I encourage you to pass this message along to as many friends & family members as possible in order that they may place calls, too.
Very truly yours,
Carol
Carol Leary
Reporters are interested in our efforts to stop the bullying, and are looking for people to interview: are you interested?
Write to
Coordinator@StopBullyingCoaltion.org
with your name and contact information with phone number and a sentence or two about what you can say about bullying in housing.
We are also preparing a press release. We need short statements from people like you. Please give us your name, contact information, type of housing (public vs. subsidized), up to 5 sentences. We may edit your story and will use your name and location only if you give your approval with your statement.
Write to
Coordinator@StopBullyingCoaltion.org
Please call or write to your legislators today.
How to make your voice heard on Beacon Hill
Go to this link, and find your state legislators by entering your street address, city/town, and ZIP code.
You will see a list with your senator and your representative, click on their names and get their contact information including email, mail, and phone. You can reach their staff people at their district offices or on Beacon Hill.
Ask them to please sponsor An Act Relative to Bullying sponsored by Senator Joan B. Lovely and Representative Brad Hill.
AN ACT RELATIVE TO BULLYING IN HOUSING
A Bill Protecting Elderly Persons and Persons With Disability From Bullying, Mobbing, and Hostile Environment Harassment in Multifamily Subsidized and Public Housing
Online resources for advocacy
We expect our bill to stop the bullying will be filed this week. A milestone on the way to freedom from harassment in our homes. Thank you for all the help and support you have given us!
Thank you for what you do.
This is democracy. This is what we do.
Jerry Halberstadt
Coordinator
Coordinator@StopBullyingCoalition.org
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