legislation

Today, victims of bullying have no hope because we have no protection, no remedy, and no justice. Tomorrow, you, our legislators can give us hope and restore our rights. Senator Lovely’s bill, S985—the ombuds bill—will ensure the 92,000 elderly and persons with disability who live in public and subsidized housing of their right to peaceful enjoyment.

We strongly support the creation of a joint task force on the safety and welfare of elderly and disabled persons residing in public housing as proposed in S791 by Senator Diana DiZoglio. This task force will complement the findings of the Commission on Bullying and can lead to legislative and administrative changes that can complement the goals of the bills on bullying.

At Beacon Hill, on April 30, 2019, the Joint Commitee on Housing meets to consider comprehensive groundbreaking legislation to protect elderly persons and people with disability in subsidized and public housing from bullying. Complementary bills filed by Senator Lovely and Representative Honan will create an ombuds office to protect tenants and assure their rights by holding landlords to account, and improve the administration of housing programs.

Dear Legislator,

Have your constituents appealed to you for help to protect them from bullying in public or subsidized housing?

Now you have a way to protect them. Please join now with your colleagues to remedy injustice and create a better life for tenants.

At Beacon Hill, on January 18, 2019, legislators sponsored bills to prevent bullying of the elderly and people with disability who live in subsidized or public housing.

Our Attorney General has proclaimed that "All Tenants Have a Right to Be Free From Harassment and Intimidation." We of the Stop Bullying Coalition, on behalf of the more than 92,000 tenants of multifamily public and subsidized housing for elderly and people with disability, seek to assure that freedom. And to that end, we ask you to join your colleagues, Senator Joan B. Lovely and Representative Bradford Hill, and to sponsor our bill prior to filing.

Do you want to stop bullying in public and subsidized housing? The Stop Bullying Coalition has submitted a petition to create an agency to take complaints, investigate, protect victims of bullying; and where needed, propose legal action to hold the landlord to account. You can help! Your elected legislators on Beacon Hill are waiting to hear from you. (see below for how to contact them). Ask them to sponsor the bill.

Whereas: why we need a law to stop bullying

The Stop Bullying Coalition recently had the honor to meet with our elected representatives, Senator Joan Lovely (2nd Essex) and Representative Thomas Walsh (Peabody), to advocate for consideration of our proposed legislation designed to address two critical needs of tenants who are elderly or living with disability, and reside in public or subsidized housing, and are victims of bullying.