March 1, 2022

Greetings!

Legislative Action Day 2022 is almost here! There's still time to sign up to join us online this Thursday, March 3rd, 9:30-11:30 a.m. Legislative Action Day (LAD) is a key event each year to mobilize advocates, providers, people with lived experience of housing instability, and concerned citizens in the work to prevent and end homelessness across the Commonwealth.

Read more about LAD below and here.

Thanks for your collaboration. We hope to see you on Zoom this Thursday!

In solidarity,
Kelly and Luke

Kelly Turley
Associate Director

Luke Benson
Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate

Register Today to Be Part of This Thursday's Legislative Action Day

Please register today for Legislative Action Day 2022, taking place online this Thursday, March 3rd, 9:30-11:30 a.m. This year’s Legislative Action Day event will be sponsored by State Representative Jim O’Day.

For Legislative Action Day, look forward to hearing from inspiring speakers, learning how to advocate with legislators, and meeting virtually with your state legislators and legislative staff to talk about issues and policy recommendations to address homelessness in Massachusetts.

Legislative Priorities

At Legislative Action Day, we will be pushing for key FY23 budget priorities (budget overview sheet and budget chart, see column C) and 2021-2022 bill priorities (bill overview sheet and bill priorities chart), including:

  • Increasing access to and funding for homelessness prevention resources through the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT) and Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)
  • Guaranteeing housing stability during the pandemic and beyond
  • Easing access to Mass ID cards for people experiencing homelessness
  • Passing the bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness
  • Extending HomeBASE benefits for families facing a return to homelessness
  • Maximizing housing and services for unaccompanied youth and young adults
  • Strengthening cash assistance programs for families with children, elders, and people with disabilities
  • Creating more housing subsidies under the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program
  • And more!

Guest speakers

Confirmed guest speakers include:

  • Representative Jim O'Day, House First Division Chair (14th Worcester District)
  • Senator Harriette Chandler, Senate President Emerita (First Worcester District)
  • Representative Marjorie Decker, House Chair, Joint Committee on Public Health (25th Middlesex District)
  • Senator Adam Gomez, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities (Hampden District)
  • Senator Becca Rausch, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture (Norfolk, Bristol, and Middlesex District)
  • Representative Smitty Pignatelli, House Vice Chair, Joint Committee on Rules (4th Berkshire District)
  • Representative Christine Barber, House Vice Chair, Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight (34th Middlesex District)
  • Senator John Keenan, Senate Chair, Joint Committee on Housing (Norfolk and Plymouth District)
  • Aisha Sleiman, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
  • John Lane, Cathedral Church of St. Paul
  • Judy Gustafson, Homeless Improvement Project
  • Marybeth Worden, Worcester Fellowship
  • Renee Spencer, Massachusetts Union of Public Housing Tenants
  • Y2Y Harvard Square Program Participant
  • Whitney Airgood-Obrycki, Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University
  • Whitney will be speaking about the Joint Center's new report, America's Rental Housing 2022. You can read the report here.

Meeting with Legislative Offices

Meeting virtually with legislative offices is a key part of the event. Just indicate on your registration form if you need help setting up meetings with your legislators, and we will work to set up appointments for you.

Here are some tips for meeting with legislators and State House staff, and a link to our simple online feedback form to let us know how your legislative meetings go.
 
Registration

Registration is quick, easy, and free: Register now. The Zoom link has been sent out to registrants, and will be sent to new registrants before the event.
 
Spread the Word

Help spread the word by sharing this link: tinyurl.com/mchlad22.

Additional details are posted on our website. For more information, please contact Kelly.

Thank you!