Tenants Organize, Easthampton Acts!
Source: Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness
Published in Advocacy on March 24, 2025.
On Wednesday, March 19, the Easthampton City Council passed a resolution calling for the repeal of the statewide rent control ban and in support of the pending bill to “allow cities and towns to stabilize rents and protect tenants.” Read the bill’s factsheet here. And read Easthampton’s Resolution Here.
This action was a direct result of tenants organizing after a new landlord imposed a 35-40% rent increase at Pleasant View Apartments. You can read about it in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
And you can add your organization to the campaign for rent stabilization by signing on here.
The Resolution captures the reality of what so many tenants experience:
“…many Easthampton renters have reported to this Council that they have been victims of predatory rental market practices, which involved landlords exploiting tenants through unfair rental agreements, abrupt rent hikes, neglect of repairs, and unfair eviction tactics. All of these practices have led to financial hardship and housing instability for Easthampton’s renters, have left many of our long-term renters displaced, and have put some Easthampton renters in the position of choosing rent over food and utilities.”
Tenants are fighting back and speaking out, with support from our Network partners, especially Liz Plouffe, Easthampton’s social worker, and Springfield No One Leaves, and pro bono legal counsel.
And they won this resolution for change!
Read more at the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness
