Giving Rights to Boston Renters

Today, Boston started the “You Have Rights” public education campaign aimed to raise awareness about tenant rights, and the importance of reporting substandard housing without fear of retribution.

The campaign follows the evacuation of residents at 25 Harrison Ave., in Chinatown, a building found in February to be housing tenants in unsafe living conditions. Estimates put more than 67% of occupied housing units in Boston as being "renter-occupied," according to a City press release.

“Tenants have powerful rights and they deserve a safe place to live without being subject to unlawful evictions or any violations of their rights,” said Boston Mayor Thomas Menino via press release. “I want people to know that there are resources available to help them. If you’re a resident of Boston and you have a housing issue or a housing question, call my 24-hour hotline.”

The campaign is putting up community posters in six different neighborhoods and informational brochures available in seven different languages (English, Spanish, Chinese, Haitian Creole, Cape Verdean Creole, Vietnamese and Portuguese). Campaign leaders want tenants to call the Mayor’s 24-hour hotline at 617-635-4500 to get help with housing issues.

More than 70 local community organizations and city departments are participating in the campaign including the Boston Tenants Coalition, which specializes in defending and expanding the rights of tenants.

“The Boston Tenants Coalition is joining the efforts put forth by this campaign because housing is a need, not a luxury,” said Maga Troncoso. “We congratulate the City of Boston for taking a stand and supporting immigrant tenants living in public housing.”

Here is a list of sponsors and partners for the campaign: 

¿Oìste?, ABCD, Inc., ACEDONE, Action for Boston Community Development, Inc., Allston Brighton Community Development Coporation, Asian American Civic Association, Asian American Resource Workshop, Asian Community Development Center (ACDC), Association Of Haitian Women, Boston Community for Youth and Family, Bird St. Community Health Center, Black Boston, Boston Asian Youth Essential Services (Boston Asian YES), Boston Bangla Center, Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, Boston Fair Housing Commission, Boston Housing Authority, Boston Public Health Commission, Boston Rental Housing Center, Boston Missionary Baptist Church, BPS Office of English Language Learners, BPS Office of Welcome Services, Boston Tenant Coalition, Cape Verdean Community UNIDO, Caribbean Foundation of Boston, Caribbean Integration Community Development, Casa El Salvador, CCHER, Clear Channel Outdoor, College Bound Dorchester, Commission on Affairs of the Elderly, Consulate of Cape Verde, Consulate of El Salvador, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), Chinese Progressive Association (CPA), Dominican Development Center, Don Warner Saklad, Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative, East Boston Ecumenical Community Council, Greater Boston Chinese Golden Age Center, Greater Boston Legal Services, Haitian American United, InterGroup Realty, International Institute of Boston, Jamaica Cultural Center, Jamaica Plain Neighborhood Development Corporation, Jamaican Consulate, Jewish Vocational Service, La Alianza Hispana, Inc., Law Office of Nadine Champagne, Massachusetts Alliance of Portuguese Speakers, Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Services, Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, Monserrat Progressive Society, Neighborhood Office of Affordable Housing (NOAH), Neighbors United for a Better East Boston (NUBE), Roslindale Branch, Boston Public Library, Small and Local Business Enterprise Office (S/LBE Office), Somali Development Center, South Cove Community Health Center, South End Community Health Center, South Side Head Start Adult ESOL Program, St. Vincent & the Granadines Ass., Thai Association of Boston, Uphams Corner Health Center, Urban Edge, Viet-Aid, Vietnamese American Civic Association, Volunteer Lawyers Project (Boston Bar Association), and  Veterans’ Services Department.