As evictions increase, the Baker-Polito Administration weakens protections

The Baker-Polito Administration weakened eviction protections in the state budget by: 1) removing a requirement that landlords beginning the eviction process notify tenants of their rights, 2) eliminating a pause in the eviction process if a tenant is applying for rental assistance, and 3) deleting reporting on and monitoring of the Eviction Diversion Initiative. Fortunately, the Legislature overrode these actions. Previously, the Baker-Polito Administration let the moratorium on evictions expire despite the facts that its rental assistance program is insufficient and inefficient, and that evictions are increasing dramatically as pandemic assistance is falling.