Access to Public Housing for Formerly Incarcerated People (Boston Housing Authority)
| Submitted | Aug. 10, 2018 |
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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 related to public housing access for previously incarcerated people
-Currently valid policies related to the Authority's valid grounds for evicting tenants (i.e. drug activity)
-Any responses (i.e. emails, press releases, letters) related to Secretary Shaun Donovan's letter sent on June 17, 2011 related to providing housing access for previously incarcerated people
Please provide materials on a rolling basis, as they become available.
If you have any questions, please feel free to clarify via phone at 610-637-7745.
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: Boston Housing Authority
Dear Sarika Ram,
The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) acknowledges receipt of your request for public records received on August 10, 2018. You have requested that the Boston Housing Authority provide copies of the following records:
I hereby request the following records:
-Currently valid policies related to public housing access for previously
incarcerated people
-Currently valid policies related to the Authority's valid grounds for evicting
tenants (i.e. drug activity)
-Any responses (i.e. emails, press releases, letters) related to Secretary Shaun
Donovan's letter sent on June 17, 2011 related to providing housing access for
previously incarcerated people
The BHA will produce the above records as requested with no fee.
Please see the following two links regarding the policies and procedures regarding your first two questions. We have no records related to your third question.
https://www.bostonhousing.org/en/Policy-Chapter-List.aspx?pName=Section%208%20Admin%20Plan&cName=For%20Section%208/Leased%20Housing and https://www.bostonhousing.org/en/Policy-Chapter-List.aspx?pName=Admissions%20And%20Continued%20Occup.
Please be advised that this ends your records request at this time and any new or additional information needs to be submitted in a new request.
If you disagree with this response to your request to access the above records 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@bostonhousing.org.
Sincerely,
Laurie Roy
Records Access Officer
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: Sarika Ram
Hello Laurie,
Thank you for your response.
Does the BHA have any initiatives whereby previously incarcerated people can be accommodated in public housing? For example, the New York City Housing Authority has a Family Re-entry Pilot Program in place in which formerly incarcerated people can apply to be reconsidered for public housing.
Best,
Sarika
From: Boston Housing Authority
No, we do not have a program like that here at the BHA.
Files
There are no files associated with this request.