NAHANT — The Nahant Public Library will be hosting a public forum to educate community members on housing bills currently before the Massachusetts legislature, along with a proposed ballot initiative to stabilize rent and protect tenants. The event is in collaboration with Essex County Community Organization (ECCO).
Slated for Oct. 30 at 5:30 p.m, the discussion aims to cover an initiative to enable cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants.
ECCO is a grassroots organization of more than 40 diverse congregations and institutions on the North Shore of Massachusetts that help people come together to “create concrete changes for justice in our local communities,” according to its mission statement.
The initiative in question, Senate Bill 1447, titled “An Act Enabling Cities and Towns to Stabilize Rents and Protect Tenants,” is a legislative proposal in Massachusetts aimed at addressing housing affordability and tenant protections. Sponsored by Sen. Patricia D. Jehlen and supported by other members of the General Court, the bill seeks to grant municipalities the authority to implement local rent stabilization measures.
The goal of these initiatives is to improve housing security, protect against displacement, and build secure, welcoming communities for all, according to Library Director Nori Morganstein.
Morganstein noted that the event was one that the library attempted to host during the summer, but it was unable to generate a solid turnout and instead decided to host the event again this fall.
“It’s an important topic right now. I think housing in general is a big topic throughout Massachusetts, but there’s legislation currently on the topic of rent stabilization, which there used to be in the state. Currently, there isn’t,” Morganstein said.
According to a report by Pioneer Institute, rent control was effectively banned statewide in 1994, and no rent control measures have been enacted since then.
She continued, explaining that officials from ECCO will be present in order to give the community a “better understanding” of the topic.
“The event is educational to help people know what the housing legislation bill is about (and) to learn about what’s happening at a state-level,” Morganstein said. “They should also know that there’s hope… Most people might agree that there is a housing crisis, and most people seem to agree that prices all across the board are going up.”
There will also be a period for attendees to ask questions to ECCO representatives, Morganstein said.
