United Interfaith Action of Southeastern MA has released the following letter:
“Fall River has a housing crisis, and the City is not doing enough to address rising rents, increasing home prices, and growing numbers facing displacement and homelessness. In a city with the third highest eviction rate in Massachusetts, where at least 24% of households spend more than half of their income on housing; 6,000+ people on the City’s waitlist for public housing (with a 9 year wait); over 500 students experiencing homelessness this past school year; and more than 200 people in shelters, transitional housing, or on the streets, MORE must be done, especially in light of the City’s recent passage of an ordinance allowing fines for people experiencing homelessness, residing in public spaces.
“In June 2024, United Interfaith Action of Southeastern MA (UIA) held a public action meeting and offered concrete proposals to address the crisis. Mayor Coogan was non-committal on many of these proposals…