Justice for Tenants

Jerry Halberstadt Tue, 04/21/2026 - 22:35
Housing today is an ongoing public health disaster, the system that is supposed to offer shelter and safety instead inflicts trauma. The problems of random people sharing common spaces in housing can manifest as a divided, fragmented local society. When the landlord harasses tenants or allows harassment, tenants are in pain and distress, but they have no way to get relief—for us, there is no justice. Humans need a supportive community. Our job as the Coalition is to empower people to create and have community, either by having the landlord prevent the toxic environment, and/or by creating community despite the challenges. We must bring people together to recognize the pain and trauma we all experience and begin the healing process.

Tags

advocacy

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day at Northampton Housing

Jerry Halberstadt Tue, 01/20/2026 - 02:15

Today’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration at the Walter Salvo House (Northampton Housing Authority) was far more than a program scheduled from noon to afternoon. It was a living, breathing testament to what community looks like when people answer a call—not because it is easy or perfectly timed, but because it is necessary.

Tags

community

Case study: Northampton Housing Authority

Jerry Halberstadt Fri, 01/02/2026 - 02:03
We see the growth of healthy community life soon after intervention by a higher authority in the example of the Northampton Housing Authority (NHA). Intervention by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) began a process that eliminates hostile environment harassment and began a new era of constructive collaboration began, led by tenants and with participation by civic leaders and management.

Tags

advocacy

Transparency, Accountability, and Tenant Safety at the Northampton Housing Authority

Jerry Halberstadt Thu, 01/01/2026 - 18:55
Paul Borneo drafted the following letter to Northampton Mayor​​​​​​​ Gina Louise-Sciarra on behalf of several signers, leaders of tenant organizations at Northampton Housing Authority (NHA) on October 17, 2025. We publish it as part of our documentation of the positive impact of complaints made by NHA staff to the Executive Office of Housing and Livability and the resulting changes in the residential community.

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legislation

Testify for peace and safety in our homes

Jerry Halberstadt Fri, 10/17/2025 - 13:57

Testify to help create the tenant advocate office

H.1814: An Act to create the office of the tenant advocate in the Office of the Attorney General was heard in front of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on Tuesday, October 21st at 1:00PM.

Please help to get this bill into law so we will have a Tenant Advocate to protect us. Everyone who lives in public or subsidized housing will benefit from this bill.

Here’s how you can help move this bill along to become law:

  • Write your testimony and send by email or postal mail.

Tags

bullying
legislation

The tenant advocate will stop bullying of tenants: support H1814

Jerry Halberstadt Thu, 10/16/2025 - 21:59
On behalf of the Stop Bullying Coalition, I am pleased to urge passage of H1814, an Act of Senator Joan Lovely and Representative Sally Kerans to create the office of the tenant advocate in the Office of the Attorney General. A major source of bullying is the failure of the housing provider to meet their obligation to assure the right of peaceful enjoyment and protection from bullying, mobbing, and harassment. Housing providers are not subject to effective oversight and accountability for this duty. This bill fills the gap in protecting the rights of tenants because it will provide oversight over, and accountability for, providers of subsidized and public housing and thus prevent bullying, mobbing (bullying by a group), and harassment.

Tags

bullying
mobbing
harassment
legislation