There's a displacement crisis in Boston, and many renters are losing their homes. City Life/Vida Urbana is a 44-year-old housing justice organization that helps people stay in their homes. If you're facing eviction or a major rent hike, call us at (617) 524-3541 or visit us online at clvu.org. We all have the #right2remain in Boston.

MARCH ON WASHINGTON TO DEMAND NO HUD CUTS!

Join City Life, Right to the City and activists from all across the country to fight for real investment in affordable housing. March with us! Sign up here

June 24th, 2017 - Boston Housing Authority's Resident Advisory Board (RAB) sponsored a press conference in collaboration with City Life/Vida Urbana. RAB spoke out for Stanley, a Section 8 renter whose landlord, Advanced Property Management (APM), has issued him a huge rent hike that would lead to his displacement. We were joined by South West Boston Community Development Corporation who also spoke out against displacement. #StandWithStanley

WE RISE UP!: 2016 Annual Report

Check out City Life/Vida Urbana's 2016 Annual Report - the whole year in review in photos and stories. 

Donate NOW to help us stop displacement in Boston: clvu.org/donate

SUNDAY, MAY 21ST, 2017: Renters in a large apartment building in Dorchester rallied to prevent their displacement. Wallace Properties, their landlord, is raising rents sharply while many tenants complain of bad conditions. Dozens joined the Victory Road Tenant Association to support their collective voice for affordable rents and community stability. Sign up for our action alerts at clvu.org/stay_in_touch.

April 22nd, 2017: Immigrant families facing eviction at 26 School St. in Egleston Square, along with 100+ supporters, rallied and marched through Egleston Square down Washington Street. City Realty Group, don't evict the families at 26 School St.! Watch the story on Boston Neighborhood Network News, then sign the petition here: http://26school-clvu.nationbuilder.com #right2remain

This week, the release of a Rapid Health Impact Assessment of the proposed Just Cause Eviction Ordinance for Boston - months in the making - coincided with the formal filing of the legislation, after over a year of public debate and advocacy.  The study was conducted by a team of graduate students at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies & Planning, guided by City Life/Vida Urbana members and organizers, in collaboration with the Right to Remain Coalition.  It was funded by the Health Impact Project.

• Based on a literature review and input from stakeholders, this RHIA assesses the impact of the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance on factors that affect health, including stress and environmental exposures, and health conditions, including depression and substance use disorder.
• The populations most vulnerable to “no-cause” evictions in Boston struggle with disadvantages on several fronts, from educational attainment and income levels to physical and mental health challenges.
• Health effects for Boston renters stem from two predicted consequences of the ordinance: reduced incidence of eviction and reduced anticipation of eviction.
• The assessment finds that the ordinance may prevent eviction for a small number of people, but the health benefits for these people may be substantial. In contrast, the number of people who may experience reduced anticipation of eviction as a result of the ordinance is much larger – potentially the entire population of Boston renters, or over 400,000 people.
• If the Boston City Council adopts the Just Cause Eviction Ordinance and investigates and implements additional policies to reduce the overall incidence of eviction in Boston, it will likely improve renters’ health.
  

Click "read more" to see the executive summary, download the full report, get a plain-language version of the summary & report plus a discussion guide, and see a media roundup and more links on housing, displacement, and health.

JANUARY 15TH, 2016, Dudley Square, Roxbury: City Life/Vida Urbana joined forces with Jobs with Justice, Dudley St. Neighborhood Initiative, Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), Dorchester People for Peace, and dozens of other neighbors to stand with Felicha Young and other residents who remain in the wake of a building "clear out". Felicha has lived in her apartment for 16 years and, like many longtime Boston residents, cannot afford the escalating rents around her. READ MORE by clicking below:

In this video, Dorchester residents testify to the Director of Fannie Mae, Timothy Mayopoulos, about Fannie Mae attempting to sell their homes on auction.com. City Life/Vida Urbana pledges to block any evictions of our members from these homes. Meanwhile, a non-profit group, the Coalition for Occupied Homes in Foreclosure (COHIF), has made several offers to Fannie Mae to buy the homes. COHIF hopes to turn the 5 homes into permanently affordable housing. Fannie Mae continues to reject the offers as evictions loom.