Mayor Walsh announces plans to reduce evictions in Boston

BOSTON — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh wants to cut the number of evictions in the city of Boston.

Recent data collected by the city shows eviction numbers have held steady but housing advocates say that is not the whole picture. Instead of enjoying her golden years in retirement, Mattapan grandmother Ruby James Saucer is facing eviction.

“A horror story, a horror story,” said Saucer. Boston 25 News spoke with her last winter after her landlord raised the rent by $700. “If you move from here, where ya going? Cause all the apartments now in Massachusetts is over $2,000.”

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In a 2-year fight to stay in her home, a jury trial in her case is scheduled for Jan. 21.

“You don’t know what to do. You law down in the bed at night and think, what I’m gonna do if I’m put out of my house? I don’t have a place to go,” she said.

Starting the new year with a new plan to help people like Ruby, Mayor Walsh is aiming to cut evictions in subsidized housing by 33% and market-rate housing by 25% in the next five years.

The data shows eviction cases in Boston remained steady over 2015 to 2017 at about 5,000 annually, but it does not reflect so-called “no-cause” evictions like Ruby’s for residents not in violation of their leases. It also does not reflect gentrification or displacement numbers.

“In terms of lower the number of evictions of market housing where the evictions are no-fault, it’s very doubtful they can do that without some form of rent regulation,” said Steve Meacham, Coordinator of Organizing, City Life/Vida Urbana.

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Housing rights advocates like City Life/Vida Urbana’s Steve Meacham say rent control is the remedy for everyone caught in the statewide housing crisis.

“We lost rent control in a statewide ballot back in the 90s. It’s going to be very difficult to pass rent control, so what we need to do is work with our families and individuals now to keep them safe,” said Sheila Dillion, Chief of Housing and Director of Neighborhood Development.

As Saucer goes to trial for her housing case, later this month, housing advocates will be at the State House protesting in favor of rent control.

>> Read: Walsh’s plan on evictions

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