Blog - Archived - Page 23 of 106

Worcester Breaks Ground on Housing for Those Experiencing Homelessness

First Published September 22nd, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is an architect’s rendering of a three-story blue housing complex with white roof. The residence has many windows and a covered front porch area. In front of the unit is a parking lot, in the background are many mature trees, a gazebo to the right of the building and a place to store bicycles, with two bikes visible in front of the gazebo. Two vehicles are parked in parking spaces, and a man in a suit walks toward the front door.

A Place to Live will have 24 studio micro units available on a sliding scale to people who are unhoused.

How to Avoid Discriminating Against Someone Based on Ancestry

First Published September 21st, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a drawing of the outline of the state of Massachusetts, with colored-in areas representing the approximate places where different Indigenous or Native American tribes lived. Moving left to right across the state, the Mohican area is colored light red, then the Abenaki tribe in blue sits above the Pocumtuc tribal area, which is yellow. Next comes the Nipmuc land in green, and the Wampanoag tribe covering most of the right side of the state in light orange. A tiny area at the top of the state in light blue represents the area occupied by the Pennacook tribe.

Housing discrimination based on someone’s ancestry, similar to their national origin, is illegal under the Fair Housing Act.

Why Weren’t My Membership Dues Grandfathered In?

Posted on September 16th, 2022 Posted in News - 2 Comments

We answer your frequently asked questions about our former program to grandfather rates for membership dues.

Massachusetts Signs CROWN Act Into Law – Discrimination Based on Protective Hairstyles Now Illegal

First Published September 12th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a cartoon drawing of a young Black woman wearing a purple and gold superhero outfit with golden yellow cape and boots. She holds a yellow semi-circle shield up in one hand, which is deflecting many comments in text bubbles that are flying at her. The bubbles read “Is that your real hair?”, “My hair would never do that”, “Isn’t that a lot of work?”, “How much did that cost?”, “Why don’t you get it straightened?” and “Your hair looks so soft. Can I touch it?” She smiles at her successful deflection of these questions, now unlawful under the CROWN Act.

The law prohibits employers and schools from banning protective hairstyles, but has discrimination implications for housing providers as well.

Letter from the Executive Director for September 2022: Hottest Yet

First Published August 26th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Our Letter from the Executive Director for September 2022 recaps a hot August. Besides our work on climate change, we continued to oppose TOPA post-session and advanced initiatives in lead, evictions and rent control.

Is it Legal to Have Blocked Dates for Move-Outs in a Month-to-month Tenancy?

First Published August 24th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 1 Comment

This image is a photograph of a plowed residential street in the wintertime, with high snow banks on either side of the road and slush around the banks. Houses are covered in snow, and cars parked on the street are blocked in with plowed snow.

Landlords may not want tenants moving out in the winter, but can they restrict tenants at will from giving notice during certain months?

MassLandlords to Appeal Recent Dismissal of Court Petition for DHCD Data

First Published August 23rd, 2022 | Updated July 15th, 2024 Posted in News - 1 Comment

Despite the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking data from rejected rental assistance applications, MassLandlords will pursue further legal action.

Landlording by the Numbers September 2022

Posted on August 22nd, 2022 Posted in News - 0 Comments

State Cans Two Most Egregious Rent Control Bills; Sends To Study

First Published August 17th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a screenshot of the top part of the first page of each of the bills mentioned in this article. The visible part of the background page reads “Senate Docket No. 1677 Filed On 2/18/2021, Senate No. 889, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” The rest of the text is cut off. The partial page in the foreground reads “Senate Docket, No. 2348 Filed On 2/19/2021, Senate No. 886, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Presented by Adam Gomez. To the honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act enabling local options for tenant protections.”

Senate bills S.886 and S.889 will not pass into law; rental assistance remains best path to fixing housing crisis.

Geothermal Pilot Project in Framingham Could Have Broad Impact on Rental Heating and Cooling

First Published August 11th, 2022 | Updated April 11th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Clean and new looking geothermal heat pump with exposed sides showing copper refrigerant lines and no exhaust vent. CC BY-SA 4-0 Tzeferis Petros.

A geothermal project in the Concord Street area of Framingham will provide data for possible similar projects using the ground to heat and cool buildings.