The MAHT Team was on Beacon Hill this week testifying in front of the Joint Housing Committee in favor of ‘An Act to Prevent and Respond to Bullying of Elderly and Disabled Residents’ (S.1007, H.1525). MAHT Executive Director Michael Kane explained how this bill is a response to the bullying older adults and people with disabilities experience everyday, either from management or owners and even fellow residents. Kane provided further information on a 2018 report released by the Commission to Study Ways to Prevent Bullying of Tenants in Public and Subsidized MultiFamily Housing that indicated more than 50% of surveyed respondents experienced or witnessed bullying in their buildings. Kane’s testimony was followed by remarks from Apple Village Tenant Association members Donna Lee and Violet Cook. Lee and Cook provided personal examples of the bullying and exclusion they have experienced in their building as a result of filing complaints and being part of their tenant association. 

This anti-bullying bill defines and prohibits “bullying”, “social bullying”, and “mobbing” within Public or Subsidized Multifamily Housing for older adults (55+) and people with disabilities. The bill would require the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Division to develop a “Model Prevention and Remediation Plan and Training Curriculum” for owners/management to adopt within one year, and more owners/management to adopt a building-specific plan within six months of the model plan. This bill also ensures that victims/residents can confidentially report incidents to the AG’s office if owners/management are the alleged perpetrators. 

Bullying is a commonplace issue that easily arises in enclosed communities, such as a high-rise senior building. It can lead to individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, and even suicidal ideation. Residents may become less willing to participate in social activities and can struggle with performing typical daily activities, like getting their mail or walking through a common lobby to leave their residence. This bill would address this by requiring the AG’s Civil Rights Division to publish training curricula for owners/managers to adopt, compile a list of best practices, and conduct a biennial confidential survey for residents and management staff to assess the prevalence of bullying within their own building.