The housing crisis in Western Massachusetts is becoming increasingly severe, putting many families at risk of homelessness. For low-income families, especially recent immigrants and refugees, securing and maintaining affordable housing has become nearly impossible.
Every month, numerous families receive eviction notices without having anywhere to go. While this issue is widespread across the state and the nation, cities like Springfield, West Springfield, Chicopee, Ludlow, Holyoke and others are facing a particularly severe impact.
If immediate action is not taken, the crisis will deepen.
I know of a mother with seven children — all under the age of 13, including infants — who has received a 30-day eviction notice. She must find new place by Feb. 28 to avoid becoming homeless.
Similarly, a widowed mother raising five children alone is also at risk of eviction. Both families receive limited cash assistance from the state Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), which is insufficient to cover rising rent costs. Until now, they have received rental assistance from local refugee resettlement programs, but that aid has ended, leaving them vulnerable.
These families are not entirely ineligible for financial assistance. They qualify for temporary rental assistance through local service organizations. However, a pressing question arises: Why are landlords refusing to accept rental assistance from such programs?
Are they avoiding reporting rental income to the government, or do they face legal barriers? If not, rejecting rental assistance without reason is not only unjust, but is aggravating a crisis that requires urgent attention.
Local rental assistance programs exist to prevent homelessness by helping families secure stable housing. However, landlords who refuse to accept such aid are making things worse. Their actions undermine the stability and security of at-risk families.
Can landlords legally refuse rental assistance?
According to Massachusetts law, landlords cannot discriminate against tenants based on their source of income. This means they are legally required to accept rental assistance. However, without strict enforcement, many landlords continue to refuse rents through these programs without consequences. Authorities must ensure effective monitoring and impose actions on those violating the law.
As a result, I see a growing humanitarian crisis. Families, especially those with young children, are being forced onto the streets during harsh winter conditions. Health care providers report increased stress, anxiety and severe health complications due to housing instability. This is not just a housing issue — it is a public health crisis that demands a comprehensive approach.
Here are things that need to be done:
– Enforce housing laws: State and local governments must hold landlords accountable for refusing rental assistance and impose strict actions on violators.
– Expand emergency housing: More temporary shelters must be established to protect families from homelessness, especially during extreme weather.
– Strengthen tenant protections: Advocacy groups, legal aid services and community organizations should work to educate families about their rights and fight against illegal or forced evictions.
Access to housing is a fundamental human right.
Western Massachusetts is known for welcoming large numbers of refugees, but true inclusivity is only reached when every family has access to safe and stable housing.
Local and state leaders, housing authorities and community members must take unified action. If they fail to do so, more families will become homeless, and the crisis will worsen.
Now is the time to take decisive action.
Hari Khanal of Springfield is a certified community health worker and serves as a refugee health initiatives coordinator at one of the area’s community health centers.