Landlord Advocacy Project Extension | |
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We are happy to share that the Landlord Advocacy Project will continue to serve the low-income landlord population until June 2024. In October 2020, VLP joined a statewide initiative to address the housing crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under this initiative, we created the Landlord Advocacy Program to support a unique group of homeowners: low-income landlords who live in and rent out part of their 2-3 family homes. The program was intended to be a temporary way to help small landlords during the pandemic, and the initiative was scheduled to end in June 2021; however, it was clear that the program was effective and that there is still a need for the program to assist low income landlords. It is now extended through June 2024. These extensions allow us to continue the programs and services VLP’s Landlord Advocacy Project has offered since October 2020. We will continue assisting eligible landlords who are struggling financially across Massachusetts, without interruption.
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If you are a small landlord who needs legal assistance or who needs help applying for rental or mortgage assistance, click here to see if you qualify to speak with a lawyer for free. | |
If you are a lawyer or law student interested in volunteering to help our small landlords, click below to see volunteer opportunities. | |
Not all Landlords are the Same | |
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One of the first challenges the VLP Landlord Advocacy Project identified was the perception people have when they hear the word "landlord". It often conjures an image of a wealthy, corporate character who does not care about the tenant renting their property. VLP knows that isn't the whole picture. The VLP Landlord Advocacy Project aims to highlight and promote education about a segment of the landlord population that is often overlooked. They are the "Small Landlords," sometimes called "mom-and-pop landlords." Our small landlords share their 2-3 family homes with their tenants, so their tenants are also their neighbors. They must maintain the only property they own with minimal income, so they rely on their tenants' rent money to pay their mortgage and bills, keep the property in good repair and battle issues brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. They feel alone. They are without ready access to resources. For some, technology is a challenge, or English is a second language; many are elderly and disabled. A small landlord can be many things; a grandparent, a parent, a community member, a neighbor – but a real estate mogul isn't one of them.
A recent Boston Globe article reported on what it means to be a small landlord and described the struggles they are experiencing amid surging inflation. The article includes a quote from our staff attorney, Monique Aziza. Click here to read more: In the pandemic's aftermath, small landlords still feel the pressure - The Boston Globe. Click here to view the PDF.
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If you are a small landlord who needs legal assistance or who needs help applying for rental or mortgage assistance, click here to see if you qualify to speak with a lawyer for free. | |
If you are a lawyer or law student interested in volunteering to help our small landlords, click below to see volunteer opportunities. | |
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Yesenia Carrion was the Landlord Advocacy Project's first paralegal. Since the Project started in 2020, her role quickly expanded beyond a paralegal's traditional duties because of her grit and determination. She helped put processes and protocols in place to grow the program, ultimately paving the way for new paralegals to become members of the Landlord Advocacy Team. In 2021, her hard work, diligence, and the sacrifices she made for clients and the Landlord team was recognized by VLP, and she was promoted to a new title and position. Yesenia is now our Landlord Project Coordinator. In addition to supervising two paralegals, she trains new pro bono attorneys via workshops and webinars, assists in reporting and helps run a virtual docket outreach and upstreaming program unique to VLP. She makes time to train volunteers individually, and she is a passionate advocate of the small landlord. Yesenia is a rockstar.
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Community Leader Highlight | |
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The Landlord Project had the pleasure of working with the founder and director of the Everett Haitian Community Center, Reverend Myrlande DesRosiers, on several workshops in the Spring and Fall of 2022. With interpreters' assistance, our attorneys spoke live to Haitian Creole-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and Portuguese-speaking small landlords. The local TV and FM radio channels, among others, broadcast each workshop, helping to share our resources across the three communities. Reverend Myrlande moderated these workshops and was involved in planning, promoting, and executing. We are grateful to have her as our partner.
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Small landlords are faced with difficult tenants too. One of VLP’s clients, a duplex owner, needed assistance dealing with her unruly tenant. The situation worsened when the tenant fell behind in rent. The tenant reported the landlord to the Housing Inspection Department but refused to permit the landlord access to make the necessary repairs. When the landlord tried to enter the property to fix the issue, the tenant threatened the landlord that she intended to take over the house, claiming that she owned the property. The tenant continued to prevent the landlord from accessing the apartment and threatened the landlord and her elderly mother, who lived with her. The landlord had to call the police and a Temporary Restraining order was issued against the tenant to protect the landlord's mother. Eventually, VLP helped extend the protection order and had the court order the tenant to allow the landlord access.
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Year to Date Community Impact | |
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