One Minute Actions to Be Heard on State Budget! <p>Thanks to our statewide partners, we can&nbsp;take 3 quick actions&nbsp;ASAP&nbsp;to urge our State Representative and Senator, Leadership and Committee Chairs to adopt our FY27 budget priorities.&nbsp; Let&#8217;s do it! 1.&nbsp;RAFT, [&hellip;]</p>

Thanks to our statewide partners, we can take 3 quick actions ASAP to urge our State Representative and Senator, Leadership and Committee Chairs to adopt our FY27 budget priorities. Click the link t
www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/2026/one-minute...

STOP HUD's Punishing Regulations! HUD has proposed new rules that would cause great harm to public and subsidized housing tenants across our region, state and country.  From denying mixed-s

HUD has proposed new rules that would cause great harm to public and subsidized housing tenants across our region, state and country. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

Tuesday, March 31: Our Turn to Weigh in State Budget Housing and Homelessness Priorities! The Joint Ways and Means Committee is holding its public hearing on the state budget next Tuesday, March 31, 12–5 pm on Beacon Hill. You can&nb

The Joint Ways and Means Committee is holding its public hearing on the state budget next Tuesday, March 31, 12–5 pm on Beacon Hill. You can testify virtually; you can submit written testimony. Click the link to learn more! #affordablehousing #endhomelessness

Biggest Housing Bill in Decades Passes the Senate With thanks to the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) for this update: On March 12, The U.S. Senate passed the “21st Century ROAD to Housing

On March 12, The U.S. Senate passed the “21st Century ROAD to Housing Act,” a unified, bipartisan housing supply package, by a vote of 89-10. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

The Network on Capitol Hill as part of NLIHC Lobby Day Last week, the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) convened its annual conference.  The week included a Capitol Hill day last Friday where o

Over 300 of us met with Congressional offices from across the country last Friday to press for protection of our critical housing and homelessness programs. Click the link to learn more. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

Mark Your Calendars: The Network's 10th Annual Gathering It's time to save the date for our 10th Annual Gathering! Friday, May 29, 9:30– 11:30 am, Holyoke Community College.  See the flyer here 

It’s time to save the date for our 10th Annual Gathering! Click the link for details and to RSVP today. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

Network Partners and Legislators Meet Up! Today and over the past week, our Network has lived up to its name: over 3 dozen Network partners from across the region gathered with legislators across the re

Over 3 dozen Network partners from across the region gathered with legislators across the region, both virtually and in-person, to advocate for our FY27 budget priorities and legislative priorities. Click the link to read more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

Franklin/Hampshire Fair Virtual Housing Listening Session: Feb 5 The final Fair Housing listening session for the western region will take place on:Thursday, Feb. 510 am - 12 noonRegister Here Secretary Ed Augustus and the

Join this opportunity for residents, advocates, and stakeholders to share their experiences, identify barriers to fair housing, and shape strategies to ensure that every community in the Commonwealth is inclusive and equitable. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

The Governor's FY27 Budget; the Network's Budget Priorities: Advocacy Begins On Wednesday, January 28, the Governor released her  proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27).  The news for housing and homelessness is mixed. Som

Click the link to learn more about the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27). #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

Emergency Winter Shelter/Warming Centers With the winter storm and frigid weather approaching, we want to make sure you have access to the most recent summary of shelter/warming center r

With the winter storm and frigid weather approaching, we want to make sure you have access to the most recent summary of shelter/warming center resources. Click the link for details! #keepwarm #endhomelessness

Congress Releases HUD Funding Bill with Over $7.2 Billion Increase for HUD Programs – Take Action! Please see this important and positive update from the National Low Income Housing Coalition:Thanks to the hard work of advocates and affordable housi

Please click the link to see this important and positive update from the National Low Income Housing Coalition! #affordablehousing #endhomelessness

Sign up Now:  Help the Point in Time Counts for Hampden and Three County CoCs The PIT Count is a snapshot taken on a single night to count the number of people experiencing homelessness in our community. It is critically important as it h

The PIT Count is a snapshot to count how many people experience homelessness. It is critically important as it helps to determine federal funding for our region and provides a basis for our own local program and system response. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness

Watch the HUD/CoC Litigation in Real Time Tomorrow at 10 am; Sign On to Action Here The two court cases related to sustaining funding for our CoC's permanent housing—close to 600 units in western MA alone—is happening tomorrow, Friday, De

The two court cases related to sustaining funding for our CoC’s permanent housing is happening tomorrow, Friday, December 19 at 10 am. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

Honoring Those Who Have Died While Homeless These annual memorial services, as described by the National Coalition for the Homeless, are where "we remember those who have died and we strengthen our resolv

These annual memorial services are where "we remember those who have died and we strengthen our resolve to work for a world where no life is lived or lost in homelessness." Click the link to learn more. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing #gonebutnotforgotten

Our CoCs Upcoming Annual Meetings The Three County CoC's Annual Meeting is taking place on Thursday, December 18, 10 am - 12 noon on Zoom. Register here. The Springfield-Hampden CoC's Annua

Upcoming Annual Meetings for our CoCs. Click the link for details! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

Sign On to Congressional Action Now! <p>In view of the ongoing chaos and uncertainty resulting from HUD’s actions (see yesterday’s blog post here), the National Alliance to End Homelessness is providing us with this action alert here. Pl...

In view of the ongoing chaos and uncertainty resulting from HUD's actions, the National Alliance to End Homelessness has provided us with an action alert. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Move-On Strategy Training The Three County CoC is sponsoring this Move-On Interactive Strategy Training on:Thursday, December 111- 3 pmOn Zoom - register here The training will c

The Three County CoC is sponsoring a Move-On Interactive Strategy Training on Thursday, December 11. Click the link for details and to register online. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing

HUD Withdraws Funding Notice One Hour Prior to Federal Court Hearing <p>Immediately prior to yesterday’s court hearing challenging HUD’s terms for this year’s Continuum of Care (CoC) funding competition, HUD withdrew the FY25 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO).  ...

Prior to yesterday’s court hearing challenging HUD’s terms for this year’s Continuum of Care (CoC) funding competition, HUD withdrew the FY25 CoC Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO). Click the link for details. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Second Lawsuit Filed to Challenge HUD’s Actions <p>We reported in our previous blog post on the MA Attorney General joining 20 other states in a lawsuit against HUD challenging HUD’s restrictions on CoC funding. Yesterday, a second lawsuit was file...

Another lawsuit has been filed , seeking a stop to HUD's "unlawful and unreasonable restrictions that seek to shift funding away from proven solutions to homelessness." Click the link to learn more. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Winter Shelter Directory Updated Expanded winter emergency shelter for individuals is newly available as of today, with thanks to the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for it

Click the link for an expanded list of winter emergency shelter locations for individuals in western Massachusetts. #wintershelter #endhomelessness

MA Attorney General Joins Lawsuit to Stop HUD’s Threat to Housing for Thousands <p>As stated in the MA AG’s press release: “Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and a coalition of 20 other states today [11/25/25] filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Housin...

New restrictions place unlawful conditions on access to funding. Click the link to learn more. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Quick Actions for Critical Impact: Protect Housing for 170,000 People Nationwide and More <p>We have a lot coming at us while we do the pressing work of every day.   Thanks to our state partner Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance and our several national […]</p>

We must act: stop HUD from enacting policies that will threaten housing for hundreds of thousands; and urge Congress to pass spending bills that will reject cuts and protect housing programs. Click the link for more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

HUD Policy Changes Will Drastically Cut Funding for Supportive Housing in Massachusetts <p>An update from the Massachusetts Housing Shelter Alliance (MHSA): Last week the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2025 Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Notice o...

Click the link for an update from the Massachusetts Housing Shelter Alliance (MHSA). #endhomelessness #affordablehousing
www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Be Heard: State Legislative Hearings on Top Priorities <p>We have two hearings that deserve our attention: Tuesday, November 18, 1 pm on protecting families facing homelessness: The Joint Committee on Families, Children and Persons with Disabilities will ...

Be Heard: State Legislative Hearings on Top Priorities. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Contact Your Congresspeople Today! <p>First, please see this organizational sign-on letter from the National Low Income Housing Coalition to add your voice to protecting housing and homelessness programs through this shutdown. Secondly...

Click the link for a sign-on letter from the National Low Income Housing Coalition to add your voice to protecting housing and homelessness programs through this shutdown and more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Join MHSA’s Mobilization Call: Wednesday, November 5, 4-5 pm <p>Thanks to the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA) for providing this critical organizing opportunity: Please join MHSA and national and local experts on Zoom on November 5 to learn ab...

Please join MHSA and experts via Zoom on 11/5 to learn about proposed federal cuts to supportive housing—cuts that could lead to more than 170,000 people nationwide losing their housing. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Action Alert on HUD Threat to Supportive Housing <p>Please join in this action alert organized by the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA): The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is proposing major policy changes tha...

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development is proposing major policy changes that would undo decades of bipartisan progress & increase homelessness nationwide. Click the link to learn more and take action! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Keep Pushing: Contact Your Congresspeople Now! <p>Please take 2 minutes to watch the latest message (see below) from Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Call or email your congresspeople next (we are so grateful […]</p>

Urge your congresspeople to intervene and ensure HUD keeps its past commitments and not allow the use of unfair and problematic criteria to make decisions for homelessness funding. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

HUD Threatens to Slash Housing; Federal Government Shutdown <p>First, if you have only one minute, go here and sign on. Next, according to an article reported in Politico yesterday, HUD is planning to impose deep cuts to CoC funding.  As summarized […]</p>

ACT NOW: Hold HUD Accountable and Protect CoC Program Funding. Click the link to learn more! #endhomelessness #affordablehousing www.westernmasshousingfirst.org/advocacy/202...

Join the Rent Control Campaign Kick Off this Saturday, September 13! The campaign to get rent control on the November 2026 ballot starts NOW! We need to collect 75,000 signatures statewide by December 3rd.  Come join Sp

The campaign to get rent control on the November 2026 ballot starts NOW! Click the link to learn more. #endhomelessness #affordablehousing