Eviction legislation updates: Week of December 14th, 2020

SCALE OF MASSACHUSETTS' EVICTION CRISIS: For the 2nd week in a row, eviction filings for non-payment in Massachusetts are breaking 2020 records. Since Governor Baker allowed evictions to continue in October, over 3,400 Massachusetts families have new non-payment cases in eviction court.
FEDERAL EVICTION BAN UPDATE: A bipartisan group of federal legislators proposed an emergency package of COVID-19 related measures, including a 1-month extension of the CDC moratorium and $25 billion in rental aid. The estimated rental debt across the country is $70 billion. See news coverage in the Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/us-policy/2020/12/14/stimulus-package-congress-coronavirus/
FEDERAL DEMANDS FROM OUR NATIONAL COALITION, RIGHT TO THE CITY:
- Our national coalition has unveiled their federal policy demands to prevent evictions
- ACTION ALERT: Sign Right to The City's petition to extend and strengthen the CDC's eviction ban at https://secure.everyaction.com/jGqFVjUp9Equjo6FfZDRlA2.
- Read our coalition's whole policy platform, "Housing is The Cure", here: https://humanimpact.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Housing-Is-the-Cure-EA-Platform-ENG.pdf
CITY OF BOSTON FAIR HOUSING ORDINANCE UPDATE:
The City of Boston has passed a new resolution to evaluate proposed new developments through a racial justice lens. It was pushed by City Councilor Lydia Edwards of East Boston, and the unanimous vote was 13-0. This is the first ordinance of its kind in the country. You can read more about it here: https://www.boston.gov/news/boston-become-first-major-city-nation-include-fair-housing-requirements-zoning-code. And a related article in Boston Magazine, “How Has Boston Gotten Away with Being Segregated for So Long?”: https://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/2020/12/08/boston-segregation
NEW EVICTION MEASURES IN THE MASSACHUSETTS STATE BUDGET:
- Two tenant protection measures passed in the budget approved by Massachusetts House and Senate.
- Massachusetts tenants will have a new defense in eviction court. Eviction cases for non-payment will be continued until the defendant's application for rental aid from RAFT is decided.
- Notices to quit (i.e. eviction notices) must include tenant rights info, and a copy must be delivered to the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
TENANT OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE ACT (TOPA) UPDATE:
- TOPA will help families keep their homes by making it more possible for affordable housing developers and land trusts to purchase our homes and convert them into permanently affordable housing.
- The Economic Development Bill, where TOPA currently sits, is likely to be up for a vote in the next couple of weeks. Check out this recent WGBH article on the importance of TOPA for more context.
- ACTION ALERT: Send an email to key Massachusetts legislators asking the PASS TOPA NOW! https://www.bnclt.org/campaigns-actions/send-a-holiday-card-to-your-legislator

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