Springfield No One Leaves

It's been over a month since the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office closed the book on an out-of-state company that once had a stake in dozens of Springfield properties - many the subject of thousands of complaints.Following a settlement, several owners involved with "Springfield Gardens" won’t be owning any building in the City of Homes again anytime soon. Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell and her staff stopped in Springfield Tuesday to meet with former tenants who could possibly see some restitution down the road.

For the past few months, a small city in western Massachusetts has been the scene of multiple protests as local tenants and advocates call out rising rents. Organizers say rent increases at some properties, especially those owned by out-of-state companies, are getting out of hand, sparking calls for action.

Residents and housing advocates from western Massachusetts took a trip to Beacon Hill this week, looking to make their voices heard on housing issues in the Pioneer Valley. Before taking the trip, some spoke with WAMC.

Changes to the emergency shelter system in Massachusetts go in effect today – including policies on who gets priority when seeking emergency assistance shelters. The changes, which some critics say diminish the state’s right-to-shelter policies, were the focus of rallies in both Boston and Springfield earlier in the week.

A bill being considered by state lawmakers in Massachusetts would provide legal counsel to low-income tenants facing eviction. In the midst of a worsening…