On November 4^th, the Forbes Building Tenants Association (FBTA) met with Secretary Ed Augustus of the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to advocate for approval of the building owner’s request for 88 Mass Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) subsidies to Save the Forbes for 40 years. Over 20 tenants attended the meeting, and 9 offered powerful testimonies on how access to affordable housing was a crucial life-changing experience. Tenant Annette White-Cole movingly told how getting an internal MRVP wait list subsidy saved her home when her income suddenly dropped below her monthly market rent. Many other Forbes tenants likewise pay excessive rents and face displacement unless more MRVP subsidies are obtained.

The owner’s request followed a four-year campaign by the FBTA and MAHT, including rallies, protests and community petitions.  MRVP subsidies would lower rents for many low-income tenants who now pay more than 30% of income for rent. If approved, the new subsidies would achieve FBTA goals of preserving the long-time mixed income, affordable character of the Forbes. The State’s decision is expected soon.