Access to Public Housing for Formerly Incarcerated People
| Submitted | Dec. 21, 2018 |
| Est. Completion | None |
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Communications
From: Sarika Ram
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
-Currently valid policies/procedures relating to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance eligibility for applicants on the basis of arrest/conviction record
-Currently valid eviction policies/procedures for tenants in public housing and Section 8 housing units
-Currently valid policies/procedures regarding obtaining criminal conviction records from law enforcement agencies and sex offender registration information from the appropriate state/local agency responsible for the maintenance of sex offender registration program
-Any reports compiling the demographic data of applicants to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
-Any reports compiling the basis of application denials to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance made between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017
-Any logs of cases of crime in public housing and Section 8-subsidized units between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017
Please feel free to contact me at (610) 637-7745 if you have any further questions.
I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, processed by a representative of the news media/press and is made in the process of news gathering and not for commercial usage.
I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.
In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.
Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.
Sincerely,
Sarika Ram
From: Muckrock Staff
To Whom It May Concern:
I wanted to follow up on the following Massachusetts Public Records Law request, copied below, and originally submitted on Dec. 21, 2018. Please let me know when I can expect to receive a response.
Thanks for your help, and let me know if further clarification is needed.
From: Boston Housing Authority
Dear Sarika Ram,
The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) acknowledges receipt of your request for public records received on December 21, 2019. You have requested that the Boston Housing Authority provide copies of the following records:
"Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:
-Currently valid policies/procedures relating to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance eligibility for applicants on the basis of arrest/conviction record
-Currently valid eviction policies/procedures for tenants in public housing and Section 8 housing units
-Currently valid policies/procedures regarding obtaining criminal conviction records from law enforcement agencies and sex offender registration information from the appropriate state/local agency responsible for the maintenance of sex offender registration program
-Any reports compiling the demographic data of applicants to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance from January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017
-Any reports compiling the basis of application denials to public housing and Section 8 housing assistance made between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017
-Any logs of cases of crime in public housing and Section 8-subsidized units between January 1, 2017 and December 31, 2017"
The BHA will produce the above records as requested with no fee. Copies of the policies/procedures are attached, I am still waiting for the data responses.
If you disagree with this response to your request to access the above records you have you have the right of an administrative appeal to the supervisor of records under 950 CMR 32.08(i) and the right to seek judicial review of an unfavorable decision by commencing a civil action in the superior court,
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me at 617-988-4501 or via email at laurie.roy@bostonhousing.org.
Sincerely,
Laurie
Laurie Roy
Paralegal/Records Access Officer
Boston Housing Authority
52 Chauncy St. - 10th Floor Legal Department
Boston, MA 02111
Tel: (617) 988-4501(direct)
Fax: (617) 988-4278
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This e-mail and any attachment or file transmitted with it may contain privileged and confidential information for the use of the intended addressee only. The confidentiality and/or privilege in this e-mail is not waived, lost or destroyed if it has been transmitted to you in error. If you have received this e-mail in error, you must (1) not distribute copy or take any action in reliance on it as any action related to this e-mail or attachment is strictly prohibited, and may be unlawful; (2) please notify the sender by return e-mail; and (3) delete the original e-mail.
The Boston Housing Authority, its subsidiaries and/or its employees shall not be liable for the incorrect or incomplete transmission of this e-mail or any attachments, nor responsible for any delay in receipt.
From: Boston Housing Authority
Hi Sarika,
Can you please give me a call regarding the below request. We need to know what kind of demographics you are looking for.
Thank you,
Laurie
Laurie Roy
Paralegal/Records Access Officer
Boston Housing Authority
52 Chauncy St. - 10th Floor Legal Department
Boston, MA 02111
Tel: (617) 988-4501(direct)
Fax: (617) 988-4278
From: Boston Housing Authority
Hi Sarika,
I have been trying to get in touch with you regarding your records request (see Below). We need more information from you in order to pull the demographics. Please call me so that we can get you the information that you requested.
Thank you,
From: Boston Housing Authority
See below
From: Boston Housing Authority
Hi Sarika,
After numerous emails and phone calls I still have not received a reply from you regarding the outstanding part of this Public Records Request dated January 10, 2019. At this point I am closing the request. If you are still looking for information please submit a new request and we would need to discuss exactly what you're are requesting.
Thank you,
Laurie
Laurie Roy
Paralegal/Records Access Officer
Boston Housing Authority
52 Chauncy St. - 10th Floor Legal Department
Boston, MA 02111
Tel: (617) 988-4501(direct)
Fax: (617) 988-4278
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