Surplus Properties

With the advent of more cost-effective, humane, community-based services, it is now possible to consolidate former and current state hospital and state school sites, which saves valuable tax dollars and frees the sites for new uses. However, with large unmet housing needs for Department of Mental Health (DMH) and Department of Mental Retardation (DMR) clients, any state hospital or state school property that closes and is sold must provide benefits for the people with disabilities that once used such facility.

United Housing has worked closely with several state legislators as well as other disability organizations to establish principles for the disposition of surplus state lands that would ensure that a significant portion of the proceeds from their sales would be used to provide appropriate housing for persons with disabilities.
Read the text of these principles →

Governor Patrick Called On To Close Fernald

June 26, 2007 - As the legal process continues in the case of the closure of the Fernald School, Governor Patrick filed a brief asking the court to give the administration the authority to determine the institution's fate. United Housing sent a letter to the Governor asking him to go further and actively seek the closure of Fernald.
Read the text of the letter →

United Housing Suggests Housing Goals for Incoming Patrick-Murray Administration

December 7, 2006 - As part of Governor-Elect Deval Patrick's transition process, the incoming Patrick-Murray administration has solicited comments from the community on a wide range of issues, including housing. United Housing prepared a series of recommendations for the new administration on a range of disability housing issues including rental vouchers, housing construction, and the disposition of surplus state properties.
Read the text of the letter →

United Housing Questions the Candidates

August 1, 2006 - This fall, Massachusetts residents will elect a new governor to replace Mitt Romney, who decided not to seek reelection earlier this year. In an effort to raise disability housing as a major campaign issue and to ascertain the views of the candidates, United Housing has sent a questionnaire to each of the declared candidates for governor. Among the topics covered in the questionnaire include rental assistance, disposition of surplus state properties, and vistibility/universal design. Questionnaires were also sent to candidates in the race for state senate in Berkshire County, and in the Fourth Barnstable District race.

Surplus State Land Presents an Opportunity for Disability Housing

September 21, 2005 - The Joint Committee on Housing is considering legislation that would facilitate the sale of surplus and unused land owned by the Commonwealth, including former state hospitals and state schools where many DMR and DMH consumers were institutionalized. United Housing submitted the following letter to the members of the Joint Committee on Housing, urging them to designate funds from the sale of surplus state properties for community-based housing for individuals with disabilities. Read the text of the letter →