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August 27, 2021

Greetings!

After two years of being a key member of the Coalition's team, we are very sad to announce that Marwa Sayed, our fearless Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate, will be leaving the Coalition. While we will miss her energy, leadership, humor, and passion for social justice, we are excited for the many opportunities in front of her.

Marwa deftly led our Housing and Benefits Committee meetings and Homeless Youth Providers Engaging Together meetings; coordinated engaging trainings across the state to increase participation of people experiencing homelessness in the 2020 U.S. Census; coordinated with individuals experiencing homelessness to push for greater access to bathrooms and shelter; advocated with and for countless families as they worked to access and retain Emergency Assistance shelter; represented the Coalition in various working groups related to housing, homelessness, ending structural racism, and promoting access to basic needs and dignity; coordinated social media outreach for the 2021 Massachusetts Youth Count; and facilitated numerous legislative briefings and events. Marwa was creative and steadfast in her outreach and advocacy, even as the pandemic shut down many of the traditional avenues of organizing. As our long-time volunteer Charlie noted, Marwa cannot be replaced.

Please join us in saying thank you and farewell to Marwa, and wishing her a speedy return to housing advocacy!

Keep reading below for Marwa's farewell message below, some memories of her time at the Coalition, and details on how you can take action to help pass the critically needed COVID-19 Housing Equity bill.

Best wishes,
Kelly

Kelly Turley
Associate Director
A Note from Marwa

Although I am sad to say goodbye, it was a pleasure and an honor to work with you all as advocates and community members during a very challenging time. Together we worked make sure people experiencing homelessness and at risk of housing instability were treated with dignity and respect and that they had increased access to resources such as hygiene facilities and rapid rehousing money. I am excited to see how the work continues and to support how I can even as I step back from this role.

Please don't hesitate to keep in touch at mnsmarwah@gmail.com.

Keep up the great work!

Best,
Marwa
The United States Supreme Court Has Struck Down the CDC Eviction Moratorium. Now Is the Time for Even More Concerted Advocacy to Pass the COVID-19 Housing Equity Bill!

Take action with us to pass the COVID-19 Housing Equity bill! Two weeks ago, the Legislature's Joint Committee on Housing heard testimony on the bill, House Bill 1434/Senate Bill 891, in an online hearing. The COVID-19 Housing Equity bill seeks to prevent evictions and foreclosures and promote housing equity during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming recovery. The bills were filed in the House by Representatives Frank Moran and Kevin Honan, and in the Senate by Senator Pat Jehlen.

With last night's Supreme Court ruling that struck down the latest eviction moratorium from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only scaled back eviction protections in place at the state level and in certain municipalities, and the Delta variant of COVID-19 spreading rapidly, it is imperative that Massachusetts enact comprehensive statewide housing protections. See the Mass Legal Help website for more details about current eviction protections in place during this phase of the pandemic.

As summarized by the Homes for All Coalition, which is leading the advocacy efforts on the bill, the COVID-19 Housing Equity bill would:

  • Ensure landlords cooperate with rental assistance programs before resorting to eviction
  • Require the state to simplify the application process for rent and mortgage assistance
  • Protect the most vulnerable tenants from forced removal for COVID-19 debts
  • Require lenders to offer sustainable forbearance plans to homeowners and to protect homeowners whose forbearance plans are ending
  • Temporarily pause foreclosures and no-fault evictions during the COVID-19 recovery period

We hope you will join us in working to see this bill become law by:


Read more about the bill and the Homes for All Coalition by following these links:


Thank you for your collaboration! We will be in touch soon with additional updates.