All about Boston’s pilot for rep of tenants with school-age children

Update: latest pilot data shows “overwhelmingly positive” results

The following was provided by the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of Housing Stability: “Since its inception in January 2025, Boston’s Access to Counsel program has served 169 Boston families with school-aged children with eviction prevention legal services. 96% of the families served have a head of household who identifies as non-white and 96% of families have a head of household who identifies as female. 66 of these cases are resolved and 103 remain open at this time. Of the 66 resolved cases, outcomes have been overwhelmingly positive, with 51 evictions prevented, 7 evictions delayed, 4 tenant based subsidies retained, and 1 case resolved in mediation with a favorable outcome. We expect to see positive outcomes continue as additional open cases are resolved each month. Referrals come in through BPS by way of FamilyAid Boston’s EHIP program, as well as directly from the Office of Housing Stability’s main intake channels. Services are provided by Greater Boston Legal Services.”

Background

In 2025, the Mayor of Boston announced the initiation of an access to counsel pilot focused on families with school-aged children.  The $500k in funding is expected to reach about 120 such families.  The release notes that the program “works through Boston Public Schools’ Early Homelessness Intervention Program (EHIP), in partnership with FamilyAid Boston, which serves as the central hub for connecting families to legal assistance and other critical resources to help mitigate eviction. School homelessness liaisons will identify families at risk of eviction, and FamilyAid Boston will coordinate with Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS) to support families in navigating the eviction process and addressing related needs.”  The announcement of the pilot was covered by MassLive.

Data provided by the Mayor’s Office of Housing Stability shows that up to May 2026:

• The program has served 106 Boston families.  Referrals come in through BPS by way of FamilyAid Boston’s EHIP program, as well as directly from the Office of Housing Stability’s main intake channels. Services are provided by Greater Boston Legal Services.
• 92% of the families served have a head of household who identifies as non-white and 96% of families have a head of household who identifies as female.
• 45 of the 106 cases are resolved, and of those 45, 33 had evictions prevented, 7 had evictions delayed, 4 had tenant based subsidies retained, and 1 case resolved in mediation with a favorable outcome.