Document Type
Research Report
Publication Date
Winter 2-2025
Abstract
The Massachusetts Housing Mediation Program (HMP), administered by the Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration (MOPC) at the University of Massachusetts Boston (UMass Boston), remains a critical resource for addressing housing instability and homelessness across the Commonwealth. By offering free mediation services to tenants and landlords/property managers at every stage of a housing dispute, the program plays a pivotal role in fostering housing stability.
Established in FY2021 as part of the Eviction Diversion Initiative (EDI) to mitigate housing crises during the COVID-19 pandemic and coordinated through the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC), the HMP has continued to operate in response to sustained demand. Leveraging the expertise of 11 Community Mediation Centers (Centers), the program delivers both remote and in-person mediation services while connecting parties to essential resources. It also fosters collaboration with housing counseling and resource agencies, local housing authorities (LHAs), and other stakeholders. In FY2024, HMP expanded its reach with a pilot initiative through Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency’s (MassHousing) Tenant Assistance Program (TAP), addressing upstream housing disputes and stabilizing tenancies further.
In FY2024, the HMP handled 1,611 referrals, of which 1,513 were screened, leading to 1,487 cases. Mediation services were provided for 462 cases through 535 sessions. Additionally, 355 tenancies were preserved and 103 housing subsidies maintained. These interventions delivered significant economic benefits, including $6.8 million in avoided shelter use costs and $2.3 million in avoided trial costs and recovered rent. Across Massachusetts, the Centers served 1,188 landlords/property managers and 1,376 tenants, addressing a broad spectrum of housing-related disputes.
Community Engaged/Serving
Part of the UMass Boston Community-Engaged Teaching, Research, and Service Series. //scholarworks.umb.edu/engage
Recommended Citation
Palihapitiya, madhawa and Zeferino, Karina, "Increasing Housing Stability Through State-Funded Community Mediation" (2025). Massachusetts Office of Public Collaboration Publications. 43.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/mopc_pubs/43
Included in
Peace and Conflict Studies Commons, Public Administration Commons, Public Affairs Commons, Public Policy Commons, Social Justice Commons, Social Policy Commons
Comments
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