Housing Advocates Plan Protest At Gov. Baker's Swampscott Home

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Housing advocates are not buying Gov. Charlie Baker's $171 million plan to help renters and landlords in lieu of the state ban on evictions that is set to lapse this week amid the coronavirus health crisis.

The groups Homes for All Massachusetts and Massachusetts COVID-19 Response Alliance said they are organizing the car caravan and march to press Baker to support and sign the Guaranteed Housing Stability Act, which would protect tenants from eviction for up to 12 months following the end of the state of emergency involving the pandemic.

The groups said the act is the only measure that will prevent mass evictions and foreclosures by protecting renters, helping homeowners and stabilizing small-scale landlords.

"Now more than ever, the human right to safe, affordable, stable, and dignified housing is connected to health, education, child care, worker rights, civil rights, racial justice, civic engagement and environmental justice," the groups said in announcing the planned protest. "Housing disruptions are having a disproportionate impact on working class families and essential workers, including teachers and child care providers."

The group intends to march to Baker's Swampscott home from Red Rock Park in Lynn at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday.

Baker contended the $171 million plan he announced on Monday will help "to manage the end of the moratorium."

"The pandemic has created financial challenges for many individuals and families who are struggling with rent payments," he acknowledged in a statement, "and today we are pleased to announce a $171 million initiative to promote household stability, and provide more support for tenants and small landlords."

Baker's plan includes $100 in financial assistance for renters, landlords and homeowners, and $49 to fund rapid rehousing programs aimed at keeping people from homelessness. Funds are also available for legal services and mediations involved with the eviction process.

The eviction ban, which forbids any non-essential evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, was
issued in April, extended in July and is set to expire this week.

According to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, an estimate of 60,000 renter households across Massachusetts fear imminent eviction, while over 100,000 households (renters and homeowners combined) are struggling to pay housing payments and are at risk of eviction.

More Patch Coverage: $171M Plan Unveiled To Help As Eviction Ban Set To Expire