January Newsletter, Legislation & COVID

Jerry Halberstadt Wed, 01/26/2022 - 20:52
Truck with open loading door, sign says "Eviction Mover"
Stop Bullying and Mobbing, the ombuds office bill S1084 Do you want to stop bullying and mobbing in your housing? Use your power to influence legislators. They do listen when we speak up. We are making a push to support S1084 to create an ombuds office to protect elderly and disabled tenants in public and subsidized housing. And S900/H1407 will help landlords do a better job. S900 & S1084, are complementary, each provides a part of the solution. Right to Counsel (RTC) Two identical bills,S.874/H.1436, Senate and House, are designed to establish a pilot program to provide legal counsel to persons facing eviction. Having an attorney will level the playing field.

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COVID-19
legislation

Bullying Legislation To Address Public Housing Crisis

Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 11/08/2021 - 18:42
At last, a solid, well-researched, in depth article about major issues in public housing, including bullying, has been published by WickedLocal. The lead article by WickedLocal reporter, Willam J. Dowd, provides an excellent review of the issues around bullying, with interviews and quotes from some of the key players. Against this background, Dowd notes the work of the Stop Bullying Coalition to advance a strong ombuds bill to protect tenants of public and subsidized housing from bullying.

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legislation
housing
bullying

Stop Bullying Coalition Petitions Beacon Hill for Protection

Jerry Halberstadt Sun, 10/17/2021 - 01:49
During virtual Beacon Hill testimony before the Joint Committee on Housing on Tuesday, October 12, Jerry Halberstadt and Ms. Kolya Lynne Smith testified on the need to establish an independent, statewide ombuds office to protect elderly and disabled persons who live in public or subsidized housing from bullying, mobbing, and harassment. Their testimonies and that of Ms. Bonny Zeh are available here.

Tags

bullying
legislation

Petition for an Effective Ombuds Office

Jerry Halberstadt Fri, 10/01/2021 - 21:53

Let us Now Improve Ombuds Bill S1084 for Effective Protection

A well-designed ombuds office is essential to protect the rights and well-being of tenants in public and subsidized housing for elderly and disabled tenants. We have been seeking relief for almost a decade, and we are no longer pleading and petitioning, we now demand legislation to protect our rights.

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bullying
legislation

Testimony for the Joint Committee on Housing

Jerry Halberstadt Sun, 09/12/2021 - 20:16
Today we support the bill of Senator Lovely S900, along with Representative Honan’s bill H1443—to provide training, guidelines, and resources. The bills rely on the owner/manager to assure the peaceful enjoyment of all tenants. We must also have oversight, protection, and hold landlords to account when they fail to collaborate with tenants and build a healthy community.

Tags

bullying
legislation

Finally, We Will Stop Bullying of Elderly & Disabled Residents

Jerry Halberstadt Mon, 05/03/2021 - 16:10

Today, tenants have no way to protect themselves from bullying, mobbing, hostile environment harassment, and retaliation, nor can they enforce their rights. Bullying deprives the target of dignity, safety, social connection, and psychological health and creates a toxic community.

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legislation
bullying

Ombuds Agency to Protect Tenants From Bullying

Jerry Halberstadt Fri, 02/19/2021 - 16:23

A Bill Establishing an Ombuds Agency Protecting Tenants From Bullying, Mobbing, and Hostile Environment Harassment in Elderly Housing

The bill as filed by Senator Joan Lovely:

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/SD1928

Below is the version as developed by the Stop Bullying Coalition

Tags

housing
legislation
bullying
elderly
disabled