Tools
The Gap - A Shortage of Affordable Homes
No State Has an Adequate Supply of Affordable Rental Housing for the Lowest-Income Renters
BUILDING A BETTER AFFORDABLE HOUSING FUTURE
How States Can Integrate Health, Energy Efficiency, Working Conditions, and Racial Equity in Their Qualified Allocation Plans
Global Greater Boston: Immigrants in a Changing Region
For as long as it’s been a city, immigrants have been central to Boston’s identity. For this new report Boston Indicators partnered with Immigration Research Initiative to analyze who makes up immigrant communities in Greater Boston, quantify what they contribute to our regional economy, and detail the immigration pathways they take to get here.
Advocates' Guide 2024!
Every year, the National Low Income Housing Coalition publishes the Advocates’ Guide to educate advocates of all kinds about the programs and policies that make housing affordable to low-income people across America.
Slides for Webinar: DHCD Sustainability, Resiliency, and Healthy Homes 4.19.23
Gregory Abbe, DHCDCome learn about ways that Public Housing Residents, DHCD, and Housing Authorities can work together to create healthier, more resilient buildings that emit fewer greenhouse gasses.
Webinar: DHCD Sustainability, Resiliency, and Healthy Homes 4.19.23
Gregory Abbe, DHCDCome learn about ways that Public Housing Residents, DHCD, and Housing Authorities can work together to create healthier, more resilient buildings that emit fewer greenhouse gasses.
Slides for Webinar: Understanding Who's Who - DHCD, the LHA Board, and the Local Tenant Organization 2.8.23
Sarah O'Leary and Bill Halfpenny, DHCDFor Residents and LHA Board Members Join this webinar with DHCD and the Mel King Institute to understand the different powers of the Local Tenant Organization, the LHA Board, and DHCD. Residents will learn more about the "chain of command" for resolving individual problems, the expansive powers of their local Board, and the limits of DHCD's authority.
Webinar: Understanding Who's Who - DHCD, the LHA Board, and the Local Tenant Organization 2.8.23
Sarah O'Leary and Bill Halfpenny, DHCDFor Residents and LHA Board Members Join this webinar with DHCD and the Mel King Institute to understand the different powers of the Local Tenant Organization, the LHA Board, and DHCD. Residents will learn more about the "chain of command" for resolving individual problems, the expansive powers of their local Board, and the limits of DHCD's authority.
Local Housing Authority (LHA) Fiscal Year Ends
LHA Fiscal Year Ends
Slides for Running Community Meetings Webinar 2.8.23
Gillian MasonJoin MKI Trainer Gillian Mason for a discussion about how your LTO can run a good community meeting. We speak about reasons for holding meetings, the role meetings play in an effective tenant association, and share some sample meeting agendas. We also speak about balancing participation and handling tough participants.
Running Community Meetings Webinar 2.8.23
Gillian MasonJoin MKI Trainer Gillian Mason for a discussion about how your LTO can run a good community meeting. We speak about reasons for holding meetings, the role meetings play in an effective tenant association, and share some sample meeting agendas. We also speak about balancing participation and handling tough participants.
RLA Tenant Participation Regulations - Trivia Answer Key
Resident Leadership Academy Tenant Participation Regulation Trivia Answer Key
Slides for Webinar: Performance Management Reviews (PMR) with DHCD 12.7.22
Lisa Taylor and Robert Garrett, DHCDLocal Housing Authorities participate in a Performance Management Review (PMR) in the areas of finance/management, capital, maintenance, and CHAMP as established by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). In this presentation, DHCD will give an overview of PMR criteria and will specifically focus on the new CHAMP and maintenance PMR criteria.
Webinar: Performance Management Reviews (PMR) with DHCD 12.7.22
Lisa Taylor and Robert Garrett, DHCDLocal Housing Authorities participate in a Performance Management Review (PMR) in the areas of finance/management, capital, maintenance, and CHAMP as established by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). In this presentation, DHCD will give an overview of PMR criteria and will specifically focus on the new CHAMP and maintenance PMR criteria.
Slides for Capital Project Implementation Process, Featuring DHCD 10.18.22
Stefanie Brynen, DHCDJoin this webinar with DHCD (The Department of Housing and Community Development) to learn more about implementing capital improvements at your Local Housing Authority. We discuss how residents and board members are involved in this process.
Boston Builds Credit
Boston Builds CreditHere, you’ll find free and low-cost resources to help Boston and area residents understand how credit works and learn how to build, protect and improve your credit scores. With a trusted network of partners working with the City of Boston and United Way of Massachusetts Bay & Merrimack Valley, our team can put you in contact with a trained financial coach and financial wellness workshops.
COVID-19 Community Impact Survey Webinar
MA Department of Public Health, Health Resources in ActionIn this video, representatives from Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Health Resources in Action, and the COVID-19 Community Impact Survey (CCIS) Regional TA Providers provide a brief background of the CCIS, what resources are available including technical assistance, and outline the process of engaging in technical assistance to transform data into action.
Impact of Climate Change on Health
National Institute for Health Care Management FoundationClimate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity and it is disproportionately felt by the most vulnerable and disadvantaged according to a recent World Health Organization (WHO) special report. This infographic explains links between climate change and health.
Updated Toolkit: COVID-19 Booster Dose Messaging and Outreach Tools
Public Health Communications CollaborativeMillions of Americans are now eligible to get a COVID-19 booster dose. The following communications resources — including topline talking points, answers to tough questions, sample social media posts and graphics — can help you answer questions about COVID-19 vaccine booster doses and support your local vaccination outreach.
Getting Capital to Small Businesses in Low-Income Communities
The Aspen InstituteHeeding the call for greater race and gender equity, policymakers, donors, and investors want to uplift small businesses in underserved communities. But boosting access to capital for business owners of color is easier said than done. In this video, we identify the importance of microloans in meeting firms owned by people of color where they are in terms of their capital needs. And we highlight the work of community development financial institutions (CDFIs) in serving this vital role. Members of the Aspen Institute’s Microfinance Impact Collaborative, for example, issued over 8,300 loans in 2018, 75% of which were to entrepreneurs of color.
COVID-19 Reopening Guide for Small Businesses
Chamber of CommerceThis guide will cover all that business owners need to know about reopening and navigating current government requirements.
Delivering Credit to Entrepreneurs of Color Impacted by COVID-19: Why Community Financial Institutions Are Essential
The Aspen InstitutePrior to the global pandemic, the relatively high small business start and ownership rates among entrepreneurs of color were a bright spot in a period of declining US entrepreneurship. But small businesses have endured some of the hardest stresses of the pandemic, as forced closures and physical distancing have decimated earnings for restaurants, salons, childcare centers, and other services we all rely on. Businesses owned by entrepreneurs of color have been particularly impacted by declining revenues, and despite government efforts to get money into people’s hands, many small businesses have not received the support they need. This is partly a problem with the delivery systems used: programs that flow through banks miss those that have historically been underserved. Fortunately, there are lenders who serve these businesses and communities: Community Development Financial Institutions. CDFIs are mission-driven lenders that serve the parts of America that too often get left behind, inc
Fifty Years Of “The People v. HUD”
Poverty & Race research Action Council (PRRAC)HUD has benefited enormously from strong civil rights advocacy, and many of HUD’s most important regulatory guidelines have emerged from this advocacy. We offer this selected timeline as a tribute to this ongoing history and, we hope, an inspiration to a new generation of civil rights and tenant activists.
The Boston Foundation Racial Equity Capacity Builders Directory
The Boston FoundationAs part of its continued work to support nonprofits as it centers and advances racial equity within its organizations, the Boston Foundation worked with partners to develop a directory of racial equity capacity builders currently serving Greater Boston nonprofit organizations. The directory lists 80 individuals and organizations providing racial equity capacity building services. Please use this as a resource for organizational racial equity goals.
Cambridge College Resource Library for Business Development Program
Cambridge CollegeThe Business Resource Library connects Consultants, Technical Assistance Providers and students to a variety of learning tools, including sample documents and industry trend topics. This library can quickly provide comprehensive information you may need to assist small businesses during their start-up, stabilization and growth phases. These materials can be downloaded from the links below. This library was built with the collaboration of Massachusetts Growth Capital Corporation (MGCC), Mel King Institute, Lawyers for Civil Rights, and Technical Assistance providers.
COVID-19 Housing Policy Scorecard
Eviction LabSafe, stable, and decent housing has always been central to ensuring health and stability. Today, with the United States focused on containing the COVID-19 pandemic, the broader and longstanding issue of income and housing insecurity has quickly become paramount to the health of an entire nation.To better understand the steps states have taken to prevent homelessness during and after the pandemic, the Eviction Lab and Columbia Law School’s Professor Emily Benfer have developed a policy scorecard for each state, distilling the contents of thousands of newly-released emergency orders, declarations, and legislation into a clear set of critical measures included in, and left out of, state-level pandemic responses related to eviction and housing.
Arts & Planning Toolkit
MAPCThe Arts and Planning Toolkit has been given a reboot to become better aligned with the needs of municipal planners who are doing arts and culture-related work. Each page now follows a consistent outline of tools, resources, and examples to show how ideas may be put into action.
Storytelling Toolkit: Lessons Learned from NHT's "Where Will We Live"
National Housing TrustThis toolkit is a guide for advocates to replicate the National Housing Trust’s efforts and successfully employ digital, visual and audio storytelling strategies within their advocacy tactics.
Opportunity360 Community Dashboard
EnterpriseOpportunity360 Community Dashboards provide the information necessary to determine where action is most needed and where established programs and policies have been most successful in any neighborhood in the country. These dashboards now allow data comparison for up to three census tracts, anywhere in the US. In the free Opportunity360 Community Dashboards, you will find over 150 indicators from 27 sources.
Public Policy Resources
BestColleges.comThis guide includes links to free public policy online resources that will help one get a better sense of the entire field.
Public Policy Career Outlook
BestColleges.comThis guide provides you with in-depth information on degree planning including program structures, concentrations, and skill development and application for a Public Policy career.
Earning a Public Policy Master’s Degree
BestColleges.comThis resource will help you learn about the common Master's in Public Policy admission requirements, coursework, and jobs available for graduates.
Honor Native Land: A Guide and Call to Acknowledgement
Sponsored by: U.S. Department of Arts and CultureCreated in partnership with Native allies and organizations, the Guide offers context about the practice of acknowledgment, gives step-by-step instructions for how to begin wherever you are, and provides tips for moving beyond acknowledgment into action.
Vision, Values, and Voice: A Communications Toolkit
The Opportunity AgendaThis toolkit focuses on the broader goal of identifying universal themes and values that tie together a range of issues.
Rights for Renters Messaging
Public Will Initiative with ToposThis tool reiterates focusing on the positives instead of the negatives when it comes to messaging. Even though the series is called Rights for Renters, it isn’t actually limited to renter issue areas—such as the Critiquing Without Undermining Government brief.
A Progressive’s Style Guide
Hanna Thomas (SumOfUs.org); Anna Hirsch (ActivistEditor.com)A Progressive’s Style Guide is explicitly multi-voiced and is created with the following commitments. 1) We combat discriminatory language. 2) We seek advice or more information when we’re unsure. 3) When writing, speaking, or using images, we aim to use examples that reflect a broad range of identities and perspectives.
Housing Matters
Urban InstituteHousing Matters is an online resource for the most rigorous research and practical information on how a quality, stable, affordable home in a vibrant community contributes to individual and community success.
The Public Health Information Tool (PHIT) Walkthrough
Massachusetts Department of Public HealthA how-to for the use of the PHIT (below), and a guide on looking at publicly available data through a population health lens.
Population Health Information Tool (PHIT)
Massachusetts Department of Public HealthThe Population Health Information Tool (PHIT) is a data portal for Massachusetts health data. As a service of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, PHIT aims to provide data for a healthier Massachusetts.
Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General Hospital and HMO Community Benefits Reports
MA Attorney General's Office (AGO)The Attorney General's Office (AGO) provides guidance on how non-profit hospitals and health plans should develop and report on the benefits and programs they provide to the public. The Attorney General's Community Benefits Guidelines gives expectations on how hospitals and HMOs should determine the health care needs of their communities, plan programs with their community partners, and report those activities to the AGO. This tool allows users to browse and search reports and to download report data.