The tenant advocate will stop bullying of tenants: support H1814

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.

How We Advocate for Our Rights

This is a guide to legislative advocacy. You can write, send email, or phone. Use your own words and your own story and borrow from the suggestions here.

Find my legislator

Go to Find My Legislator by entering your street address, city/town, and ZIP code. To

You will see your representative and your senator. Click on their name links and you will see their email address and phone number.

Transparent advocacy for the rights of tenants

This post will show how we work with our legislative partners, there is nothing to hide and the more people understand the process, the stronger our movement as we demonstrate how we do democracy. Beacon Hill is often criticized for a lack of transparency. Legislators are seen as under the influence of powerful forces that are never seen in the light of day. We of the Stop Bullying Coalition do advocate on policies and legislation, and we do so out in the open, transparently.

Sticks, Stones, Gossip & Governance Part 2 of 2

“Oldtown” is a small city in the Connecticut River Valley in Western Massachusetts. “Beatrice,” a Black, energetic middle-age woman who is a tenant in “Oldtown Housing Authority (OHA),” is the target of mobbing, including by tenants and staff calling her a bully (although there is no apparent basis for the allegation). She is the tenant commissioner of the OHA board, appointed by the mayor of Oldtown. The legal housing provider in public housing consists of five commissioners, one of whom is a tenant. In some housing authorities, the governance system is in turmoil. How can we remedy the breakdown in trust that affects everyone: tenants, the board, the executive director, the staff, and even the public? Can we find a way to create a more collaborative, transparent community and to value constructive input from everyone? This is Part 2; see Part 1 

Sticks, Stones, Gossip & Governance Part 1 of 2

Smiling woman looks at viewer

In some housing authorities, the governance system is in turmoil. How can we remedy the breakdown in trust that affects everyone: tenants, the board, the executive director, the staff, and even the public? Can we find a way to create a more collaborative, transparent community and to value constructive input from everyone? This is Part 1; See Part 2

Report: Meeting with Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities

As leaders of the Stop Bullying Coalition advocating for the rights of tenants living in public and subsidized housing we have the honor of meeting and collaborating on policy with our legislators and high state officials in the Office of the Attorney General and with the new Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).

Testimony on H3868, to establish a tenant advocate to protect tenant rights

Testimony of Jerry Halberstadt and others in favor of H3868, “An Act to create the office of the tenant advocate in the Office of the Attorney General,” prepared for the Joint Committee on the Judiciary, December 5, 2023 


To the Honorable Chairs James B. Eldridge and Michael S. Day, Vice Chairs Lydia Edwards and Christine P. Barber and members of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.

Greetings: