Housing

Governor Healey Proposes Major Revisions to Massachusetts’ Right-to-Shelter Law Amid Housing Crisis

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BOSTON, Mass. — Governor Maura Healey unveiled a plan Wednesday that could significantly alter Massachusetts’ right-to-shelter law, originally enacted in 1983. This law ensures that homeless families and pregnant women receive emergency housing. However, with shelters reaching their capacity of 7,500 families this year due to a surge in migrants, state officials see a need for reform. Governor Healey emphasized that the reforms aim to maintain safety, support communities, and achieve fiscal sustainability within the shelter system. She stated, “These proposed changes will allow us to ensure the safety of our system, support cities and … Read more

New Jersey Judge Upholds Implementation of Groundbreaking Affordable Housing Law Amid Municipal Pushback

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TRENTON, N.J. — A Mercer County Superior Court Judge issued a decision on Tuesday that supports the continuation of New Jersey’s rigorous new affordable housing legislation, striking down a request to halt the law’s implementation. The motion to pause, brought forward by two dozen municipalities known for their resistance to inclusive housing policies, was decisively rejected by Judge Robert T. Lougy. In September, these municipalities had jointly filed a lawsuit challenging the state’s affordable housing framework. The legislation mandates every city allows a quota of affordable housing to accommodate its population’s needs. A hearing to … Read more

Buffalo’s Housing Court Welcomes New Judge, Phillip Dabney Jr., Amid Renewed Focus on Lead Violations and Community Engagement

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Buffalo, N.Y. — Following weeks of anticipation, Phillip Dabney Jr. has officially been appointed the new judge of Buffalo City Court’s Housing Court. Judge Dabney, 55, brings substantial experience, having served as a temporary judge in Housing Court multiple times earlier this year, an experience he and others feel have well-prepared him for his new role. Judge Kevin Carter, from the Eighth Judicial District, shared high praise for Dabney’s earlier assignments in Housing Court. He highlighted Dabney’s serious approach and eagerness for the position, both of which played a key part in determining the recent … Read more

Controversy at Women’s Prison: Inmate Alleges Sexual Assault by Transgender Cellmate Amidst Department of Corrections Housing Policy Debate

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GIG HARBOR, Wash. — A former inmate at the Washington Corrections Center for Women has filed a federal lawsuit alleging she was sexually assaulted by her transgender cellmate, an individual with a history of sexual offenses, according to court documents. The plaintiff, Mozzy Clark-Sanchez, claims the assaults occurred over a period during which they shared a cell, sparking concerns about the incarceration policies for transgender inmates in state facilities. Clark-Sanchez’s lawsuit asserts severe allegations against Christopher Scott Williams, who after legally being recognized as a female by the state, was transferred from a men’s to … Read more