TAKE ACTION: Policy Recommendations for the COVID-19 Crisis

Action is needed on the local, state, and federal level to support low-income families during this crisis!

You can help by contacting your legislators and letting them know you support clear, specific measures to sustain our communities.

On the local level, WATCH is working to expand our programs to meet the urgent need in our community. We advocated for the Waltham Emergency Housing Fund which was approved by the Waltham City Council. Waltham residents can now apply for assistance with rent, mortgage, and utility payments through the fund.

Beyond Waltham, WATCH supports the policy platforms of our regional partners, CHAPA, MACDC, and MIRA Coalition, who all have a long history in advocating for housing, economic justice, and immigrant protections in the commonwealth.

We stand with our partners in calling for the following policy priorities:

• Freeze nonessential evictions and foreclosures during the declared state of emergency.
  • UPDATE: Legislation passed! Read about it here.
• Help residents pay rent or mortgage payments in cases of financial hardship exacerbated or caused by COVID-19
• Provide landlords and owners the resources they need to maintain their properties and operations while rental income declines and costs associated with COVID-19 increase
• Increase the capacity of emergency shelter providers, housing authorities, and regional housing agencies to respond to the public health crisis
• Ensure the continued development and operation of high-quality affordable housing.
• Expand Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
  • Lower eligibility threshold and reduce documentation requirements
  • Extend eligibility up to 80% AMI while continuing to reach at least 30% AMI
  • Expand the upstream pilot program under RAFT to allow up to 4 months of back rent of mortgage to improve access to program
• Ensure that the state’s legislation in response to COVID-19 addresses the diverse needs of all of the state’s residents
• Recognize the importance and support the work of community-based organizations, mutual aid groups, and municipal programs in meeting people’s basic needs at the local level.
• Ensure that national legislation does not exclude immigrant families.

TAKE ACTION: Contact your representatives and demand that Congress deliver a COVID-19 health and stimulus bill that actually works for immigrant families, Protecting Immigrant Families.

To read more about these policies entail, read the full releases from CHAPA, MACDC, and MIRA.

Check back with WATCH for further updates about policy goals and achievements.