It was a beautiful day for our annual meeting this past Saturday to celebrate the many tenant leaders and tenant associations who work hard to save affordable housing across Massachusetts. We were excited to present awards to:

The Forbes Building Tenants Association in Jamaica Plain for gaining community support to get their owner to commit to permanent affordability

Georgetowne Tenants United in Hyde Park for winning a comprehensive survey of water leaks and mold and Emergency Rental Assistance for tenants behind on rent

Babcock Towers Tenants Association in Brighton for securing their landlord’s acceptance of 46 Vouchers from the BHA to save their homes

Marcus Garvey Tenants Association in Roxbury for successfully protesting sudden rent increase notices and restoring dialogue with management

The City Rent Subsidy Coalition for winning support to increase Boston’s City Rent Subsidy Program from $5 million to $10 million annually

Newcastle-Saranac Tenants Association in Roxbury for surviving relocation and renovations and winning owner’s commitment to seek additional Vouchers to lower rents for tenants

The Sandi Padellaro Award for Outstanding Tenant Leader to Yuri Fershter from Babcock Towers Tenants Association for his courageous, brilliant, and compassionate leadership  to win creative new resources for tenants citywide and enable his neighbors save their homes

We also had the pleasure of having chief of housing for the city of Boston Sheila Dillon, Boston city councilor Ruthzee Louijeune, and state representative Mike Connolly stop by and express their support for affordable housing and all of the great work MAHT does. We look forward to continued partnership with them.