Thanks to the efforts of grassroots organizers, the City of Somerville now has the longest continuous municipal eviction moratorium in the state of Massachusetts. On September 9th, the Somerville Board of Health voted unanimously in favor of extending the moratorium until April 30, 2022, providing seven more months of residential protections from eviction and foreclosure, rather than the originally proposed two months.

The full text of the emergency order can be read here. Although the April timeline doesn’t meet the original campaign goal of an extension until June, this was still a very unexpected and welcome victory for Somerville residents. It grants more time for renters and homeowners to apply and receive financial assistance without the threat of being evicted or foreclosed upon during the winter, and less risk of the highly contagious Delta COVID-19 variant spreading in the community.

Prior to the Somerville Board of Health meeting, the Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAAS), the Eviction Response Network (ERN), and the Somerville Renters Committee held a peaceful “Call to Conscience” demonstration on the side lawn of Somerville City Hall to call on Mayor Curtatone and the Board of Health to order an extension of the City of Somerville eviction moratorium through June 2022.

The demonstration was the culminating event in a week of action to support an extension of the eviction moratorium through June 2022. In total, 323 community members signed a petition in support of the extension, and five residents offered moving verbal testimony at the hearing. A video recording of the demonstration can be watched here, along with a recap of the campaign’s success.

“I believe that every voice should be heard regardless of age, race and wage. In most cases the majority of outcries come from the minority. But working together, we can create change for the better,” said Akida Harris, a member of the Somerville Renters Committee who organized an advocacy hour to contact city officials.

“We are grateful and proud that the Somerville Board of Health listened to our community and extended the residential eviction moratorium until next spring. This was the best outcome because housing stability is a matter of public health, public safety, economic, and racial justice,” said Nicole Eigbrett, Director of Community Organizing at CAAS. “The work doesn’t stop here. We will continue organizing and reaching out to people in need, especially to our immigrant neighbors and anyone else who may be struggling, to make sure that no one loses their home during this ongoing global pandemic.”

CAAS encourages Somerville residents who are behind on rent to contact us for rental and eviction assistance as soon as possible at: 617-623-7370, or visit caasomerville.org.