Ensuring Fairness and Stability in Housing
In January 2025, MLAC began administering a statewide Access to Counsel Program (ATCP) with funding allocated by the Massachusetts Legislature.
The program increases access to full legal representation for tenants and owner-occupants with low incomes in eviction proceedings. ATCP is rooted in principles developed by the Access to Counsel Coalition.
Data from the Massachusetts Trial Court reveal that in 2024, only 4.3% of tenants facing eviction came to court with a lawyer, compared to 90% of landlords filing eviction cases. Having an attorney can make a world of difference for a family who needs help staying stably housed or even just securing ample time to move. For landlords with low incomes, an attorney can help ensure their essential income stream is not jeopardized while justice is served. In just the first six months, ATCP helped hundreds of individuals and families.
In October 2025, ATCP presented results from the first six months of activities to the Massachusetts legislature. Read the report here.
Legal Aid Partners
MLAC selected the following six legal aid organizations to provide direct legal representation to tenants in eviction proceedings:
- Community Legal Aid
- De Novo Center for Justice and Healing
- Greater Boston Legal Services
- MetroWest Legal Services
- Northeast Legal Aid
- South Coastal Counties Legal Services
The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute will support the implementation and evaluation of the program.
Focus Areas for Legal Representation
To help shape ATCP, MLAC conducted an extensive outreach process in fall 2024, engaging over 200 stakeholders from communities across Massachusetts. From this feedback, MLAC identified four preliminary focus areas for representation:
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Tenants living in or managed by specific housing authorities
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Tenants with housing vouchers who are at risk of eviction that could jeopardize their voucher
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Tenants facing eviction by large-scale, problematic private landlords
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Low-income owner-occupants who are facing eviction from their homes
FY26 Funding
The Massachusetts State Legislature allocated $2.5 million for ATCP in FY26 through state budget line item 0321-1800.
MLAC gratefully acknowledges additional support for ATCP from the Massachusetts Bar Foundation in FY26.
FY27 Budget
ATCP received $3 million for FY27.