Legislature considers landmark tenant protective services ombuds
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Write email to: http://stopbullyingcoalition.org/contact
Legislature considers landmark tenant protective services ombuds
At Beacon Hill, on April 30, 2019, the Joint Commitee on Housing meets to consider comprehensive groundbreaking legislation to protect elderly persons and people with disability in subsidized and public housing from bullying. Complementary bills filed by Senator Lovely and Representative Honan will create an ombuds office to protect tenants and assure their rights by holding landlords to account, and improve the administration of housing programs.
Senator Joan B. Lovely introduced An act relative to bullying in housing (S985) establishing a new statewide independent tenant protective services ombuds program to prevent bullying of tenants. Senator Lovely and Representative Kevin Honan presented An act to prevent and respond to bullying of elderly and disabled residents (S984/H1443) to improve the administration of housing programs.
State Senator Joan Lovely said, “The Commonwealth confronts a crisis of housing affordability that hampers the ability of our kids to stay in the communities where they grew up, of employees who look to find residences within reasonable commutes of their jobs, of poor people who search desperately for affordable housing, and of elderly and disabled residents who struggle to find places that they can pay for and that meet their particular needs. Senator Lovely added, “Low-income, disabled, and elderly individuals who do find suitable housing, oftentimes feel incredibly fortunate to have found anything at all. This feeling makes these already vulnerable populations even more vulnerable for abuses related to bullying, which explains why I filed the two bills that the Joint Committee on Housing will consider at its Tuesday hearing.”
Representative Brad Hill said, “No one should ever be bullied and these bills [S984/H1443 & S985] will go a long way to preventing bullying.”
According to Jerry Halberstadt, Coordinator of the Stop Bullying Coalition, “the filing of these bills is a milestone on the road to victory for the rights of the elderly and people with disability who live in subsidized or public housing. With our legislative partners, we worked to establish the Commission on Bullying, and the findings and reports of the commission helped provide the basis for these two complementary bills.”
The attorney general asserts that landlords are legally obligated to assure the “peaceful enjoyment” of all tenants, and when they fail in that duty the rights of tenants are infringed. If the ombuds office in the Department of Housing and Community Development finds a pattern or practice of bullying and hostile environment, the ombuds will refer the matter to the attorney general to hold the landlord accountable.
June Fleischmann, an experienced outreach worker in community mental health. said, “The victim fears for his very existence, fears leaving his apartment, and waits, yearning for freedom.”
Jerry Halberstadt said, “Until the landlord takes care to prevent bullying, it is simply too dangerous and futile for targets of bullying to stand up for their rights.”
Susan Bonner, Legislative Chair of the Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants, has worked with the Stop Bullying Coalition during the work of the Commission on Bullying and in developing An act relative to bullying in housing (S985). She said, “The tenant leadership of the Mass Union of Public Housing Tenants gave unanimous support for the ombuds bill in our recent convention.”
Brian Costello, the Executive Director of the Watertown Housing Authority and President of MassNAHRO, said “The landlord should be accountable for their primary purpose, which is quiet and peaceful enjoyment of the building. If residents feel their needs are not being met, then they should be able to reach out to a third party.”
MORE: A copy of this release with supporting materials at
press/media release is posted online.
I will present testimony, the text is posted online http://stopbullyingcoalition.org/201904testimony .
A number of other important housing bills will also be considered.
If you plan to come and/or to testify.
Directions to the State House
There are many ways to reach the state house, by foot, public transportation, or by car. see the detailed information at https://malegislature.gov/StateHouse/Visit
Directions to the hearing room, B2
To get to Hearing Room B-2:
- Approach the Ashburton Plaza entrance from Bowdoin Street.
- Proceed through the Ashburton Plaza Entrance.
- Pass through the security checkpoint.
- Turn right down the hall.
- Hearing Room B-2 will be to your left.
The hearing room is accessible to wheel chairs. If you have any special needs and seek assistance or accommodation, please contact me or the office of Senator Lovely on Monday, April 29. The state house has accessibility services. https://malegislature.gov/StateHouse/Accessibility
Guidance on testimony
Everyone has a right to testify. Just show up and sign in. If you are interested in providing testimony on these bills, please let me know.
Testimony is limited to three (3) minutes. Do time yourself reading your testimony out loud as if to an audience. A useful guide to length is about 400-500 words. You may read the testimony. Some prefer to work from notes or talking points. If you can speak without reading from a text, and put your feelings into your talk, that can be very effective.
There will be sign-up sheets at the door for you to indicate what bills you want to testify on. You can testify on at least one bill, on more if the Chairs permit, and that depends on how many speakers are lined up. Also, the Chairs will take elected officials out of order, whenever they appear.
We don't know the order of the bills and Senator Lovely's staff is trying to have the bullying legislation heard as early as possible.
There is a cafeteria in the building and many nearby lunch restaurants.
Written testimony
You should plan on giving a written copy of your testimony to the Committee, or you can send it by email. I would appreciate a copy of your testimony.
If you cannot attend or prefer not to present at the hearing, you can send a written or electronic copy to the Committee.
If you want to testify anonymously, email your testimony to me and I will strip identification and forward to the committee.
I look forward to seeing you on April 30!
NOTE: From the Committee
Please note: the Committee reserves the right to add or remove bills from the agenda prior to the hearing. Please contact committee staff at 617-722-2470 with any questions.
Kelly A. Mallon
Research Analyst
Joint Committee on Housing
Massachusetts State Legislature
State House, Room 38 | Boston, MA 02133
(617) 722-2470 | Kelly.Mallon@mahouse.gov
Thank you! This is democracy. This is what we do.
All the best,
Jerry
Jerry Halberstadt, Coordinator, Stop Bullying Coalition
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A Call to Action
Please make your voice heard on Beacon Hill now. Write, email, or call your state senator and state representative. Here's how:
Find your state legislators by entering your street address, city/town, and ZIP code.
https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
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.
Please tell them why you support these bills on housing:
- An Act relative to bullying in public housing (S985).
- An act to prevent and respond to bullying of elderly and disabled residents (S984).
- An Act protecting elders from bullying (H628)
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Together, we are strong and powerful. We invite you to join us on the road to inclusion and respect for all.
Here's how to join our march:
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