Here’s a reminder plus additional information:
Western Massachusetts has 3 more opportunities to be heard on the issue of fair housing – your experiences and challenges in gaining access to housing and your thoughts on what the Commonwealth can do about it.
While the sessions are identified by geography, please attend on any date that works for you. You are welcome at any and all of them!
Berkshire County
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Date:Monday, January 12, 2026, 4:00- 6:00pm
Register here
Sponsored by EOHLC in partnership with Upside 413, Hearthway and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity
Hampden/Hampshire
Location: Holyoke Community College, Kittredge Center, 303 Homestead Ave, Holyoke, MA 01040. Conference room 301
January 14, 2026 1:00-3:00p
Register here
Sponsored by EOHCL in partnership with Community Legal Aid, Massachusetts Fair Housing Center and the Western MA Network to End Homelessness
Franklin County
Location: Virtual
Date: Thursday, February 5, 10 am – 12 noon
Stay tuned for registration link but mark your calendar now!
Additional background from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC):
These listening sessions, offered by Secretary Ed Augustus and EOHLC in conjunction with western MA partners, are designed to provide an 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.
One of the critical components of the Commonwealth’s $5.2 billion Affordable Homes Act (2024) was the establishment of the state’s first Office of Fair Housing and the Fair Housing Trust Fund to expand our efforts to fight housing injustice.
The Office of Fair Housing is charged with working to overcome patterns of segregation in our housing and to support enforcement, policies development, research, programming, and education to foster more inclusive communities and to create better access to housing and affordability.
The goal of these gatherings is to center community voices, strengthen partnerships, and build public awareness of fair housing rights and responsibilities. By documenting lived experiences, identifying local barriers, and generating actionable recommendations, the Commonwealth will be better positioned to proactively address fair housing and ensure that all residents have access to housing opportunities free from housing discrimination.
EOHLC values your voice and perspective. Please join us for one of these sessions!
