On June 15, 2021 – the very day that tenant protections in Chapter 257 were set to end – the state legislature voted to extend them. The following day, Governor Baker signed the legislation into law. The new law, Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, continues the Chapter 257 requirement that courts pause non-payment […]
Last week, President Biden signed a Presidential Memorandum to expand access to legal representation and the courts. “Timely and affordable access to the legal system can make all the difference in a person’s life—including by keeping an individual out of poverty, keeping an individual in his or her home, helping an unaccompanied child seek asylum, […]
Due to the move to Zoom court proceedings during the pandemic, lack of internet access or internet-connected devices has prevented access to justice for countless low-income people across the Commonwealth. Many people are unable to log into court hearings, struggle to present evidence to support their case, or are unable to participate at all in […]
Rosa, a single mother of three, worked as a Patient Care Assistant on a COVID unit. Early in the pandemic, Rosa was furloughed and began to fall behind on her rent. When she returned to work, Rosa, who was then pregnant with her third child, developed pregnancy complications and was forced to take an early, […]
When Robert first contacted South Coastal Counties Legal Services (SCCLS), he was facing an eviction for nonpayment of rent. In November, his wife had died. Between the two of them, they were only just able to make ends meet. Without her financial contribution, there was no way for Robert to afford the rent.
“The threat of eviction… particularly during these scary, unprecedented times has been one of the most difficult challenges I’ve ever had to face. Going up against a legal system on your own can seem daunting and overwhelming, but Attorney Emily Dasey not only immersed herself entirely in my case but was able to get results immediately.”
At the start of the COVID pandemic, Allan had no place to go. He had received an eviction Notice to Quit after missing two months of rent and left to avoid court action. Allan had lived with his mother, Sarah, in her apartment a few years ago, so Sarah decided that he should move back […]
JJ was working three jobs and caring for her two daughters when the pandemic hit. As two of her jobs phased out, she was able to keep the third until an injury flared up, causing her to take fewer hours. As medical bills mounted and her income depleted, JJ began to fall behind on rent. […]
With 1 in 5 Massachusetts residents reporting domestic violence as a reason for their homelessness, collaborations between domestic violence organizations and legal aid can keep survivors housed. Recently, the New England Learning Center for Women in Transition (NELCWIT), the sexual and domestic violence crisis center in Franklin County, referred a case to Community Legal Aid […]