MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FAIR HOUSING AND EQUITY OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 21

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES FAIR HOUSING AND EQUITY OPEN HOUSE ON SATURDAY, APRIL 21

Open House to inform residents of their rights, provide housing resources to ensure fair and equitable access to housing opportunities

BOSTON - Thursday, April 19, 2018 - Building on the Walsh Administration's commitment to providing opportunities for safe and affordable housing, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the 2018 Fair Housing and Equity (FHE) Open House, which will take place on Saturday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bolling Building in Dudley Square, and is free and open to all residents who live or rent property in the City of Boston. "Safe and stable housing is the foundation to a person's future success," said Mayor Walsh. "My administration is committed to providing the resources to equip residents with the information and tools they might need to overcome housing challenges. We will continue our important work to increase equity and opportunities in housing for all Bostonians." The Open House will provide individuals with the opportunity to learn about City and nonprofit services that investigate housing discrimination, provide affordable and income-restricted housing, and other housing resources. "Mayor Walsh is committed to creating every opportunity for residents to access and keep affordable housing in Boston," said Boston's Health & Human Services Chief, Marty Martinez. "The Fair Housing Open House is an opportunity for residents, regardless of zip code or status, to obtain the tools needed to access Boston's affordable and income-restricted housing stock, and to learn about various services available to prevent and challenge housing discrimination." "Housing discrimination hurts communities and the Office of Fair Housing & Equity is an invaluable resource to Boston in working to end that discrimination through education and enforcement," said Jamie Langowski, Esq, Assistant Director & Clinical Fellow Housing Discrimination Testing Program at Suffolk University Law School. The Open House will facilitate panel discussions, presentations, and outreach materials all related to affordable housing and preventing housing discrimination in Boston. Boston residents, or soon to be residents, are encouraged to attend the Open House. "50 years after the Fair Housing Act was born, HUD remains firmly committed to creating a nation where every person has the same access to housing and economic opportunity," said Susan Forward, HUD New England Regional Director of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity.  "It is in this spirit that we are excited to join the City of Boston's Office of Fair Housing in educating landlords and renters about housing discrimination rights and responsibilities at The Boston Fair Housing Open House." April 11th marked the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Fair Housing Act, which ensures protections against discrimination of housing based on race, color, national origin, sex, familial status or disability. The Mayor's Office of Fair Housing and Equity implements these protections by investigating housing discrimination. FHE also protects residents by enforcing Affirmative Marketing policies that promote equal opportunity for residents to learn about new affordable and income restricted housing opportunities in Boston.

AG HEALEY TO CONGRESS: DON’T GIVE LAWYERS A LICENSE TO USE ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES

AG HEALEY TO CONGRESS: DON’T GIVE LAWYERS A LICENSE TO USE ABUSIVE DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES

BOSTON – Attorney General Maura Healey today led a bipartisan coalition of 20 state attorneys general urging Congress to oppose the so-called Practice of Law Technical Clarification Act of 2018, which would strip away protections against debt collection attorneys who use state courts to intimidate, harass and deceive consumers.

The letter states that, if enacted, the bill would amend the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to exempt law firms and licensed attorneys engaged in “litigation activities,” allowing them to engage in abusive practices. The amendment would also bar individuals from suing debt collection lawyers for damages and reasonable attorneys’ fees.  

            “This bill gives a free pass to predatory debt collection attorneys that harass our residents and manipulate our court system to threaten elderly and disabled people,” said AG Healey. “Congress should reject this bill.”

The attorneys general argue that “certain debt collection attorneys and law firms routinely misuse their access to the judicial system to take improper advantage of unsophisticated consumers.” These debt collectors’ use of litigation to collect debts disproportionally affects the most vulnerable consumers, who often lack the resources to hire lawyers, including the elderly, disabled and poor.  

State attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have brought numerous actions against the practices of abusive debt collection law firms, which include falsely threatening to garnish the income and social security benefits of elderly and disabled consumers, threatening consumers with arrest and imprisonment for failure to pay debts, improperly suing consumers in courthouses miles from their homes, and filing lawsuits without meaningfully reviewing pleadings and without proof that consumers owe the debt at issue.

AG Healey’s Office regularly receives consumer complaints about debt collection abuses and has taken legal action against a number of debt collectors. In July 2017, the largest debt collection law firm in Massachusetts, Lustig, Glaser & Wilson, P.C., agreed to pay $1 million in restitution and significantly change their practices after AG Healey took action against them for widespread consumer abuses impacting thousands of Massachusetts consumers. That same month, the AG’s Office sued a Lowell debt collection attorney and was granted an injunction barring him from threatening consumers with arrest or imprisonment for nonpayment of small debts.

The AG’s Office is committed to combatting abusive debt collection practices. Consumers who have questions or concerns about such practices can call the Attorney General’s consumer hotline at 617-727-8400 or file a complaint with the office. 

Today’s letter comes in response to the House Financial Services Committee’s decision to vote the Practice of Law Technical Clarification Act out of committee.

Joining AG Healey in signing this letter today are attorneys general from California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Washington D.C.

建築業婦女工作機會介紹會 5/1

HELP WANTED: Build A Life that Works for You!

Did You Know: Women in Construction Enjoy Great Pay, Full Benefits and Paid Training

WHAT:                     Are you a woman interested in pursuing a career with great pay, full benefits and paid training? Here is your opportunity to learn more about what it takes to pursue a career in the union building trades.  With a career in the building trades, you can take pride in building our cities and towns, while building a better life for yourself!  

Tradeswomen Tuesdayis a monthly recruiting event designed to educate women about the benefits of pursuing a career with the union building trades. This forum provides an opportunity for interested applicants to meet with other women who are currently working in various construction trades. Tradeswomen share their stories about their pursuit for a career in construction and offer helpful tips and information to those seeking to follow a similar path. 

WHO:                       Members of the Northeast Center for Tradeswomen’s Equity(NCTE), Tradeswomen, and women considering a career in the construction trades. 

WHEN:                    Tuesday, May 1, 2018 

                                    5:00pm – 6:30pm

WHERE:                  Building Pathways, 2201 Washington St., Roxbury, (Dudley Square)

WHY:                       Tradeswomen Tuesdays, hosted by NCTE, is part of an innovative, statewide recruitment strategy designed to encourage more women to pursue a career in the union building trades. The Build A Life That Works campaign seeks to address an ongoing challenge in an innovative and impactful way by inspiring women to pursue a career in the union building trades as a viable path to equal pay for equal work, excellent benefits, and a better future. Currently, in Massachusetts tradeswomen comprise 5% of the workforce. This statewide effort aims to increase tradeswomen in the building trades to 20% by 2020. 

The Build A Life That Works campaign taps into the insight that women could enjoy a rewarding career in the construction trades, if they would only consider the opportunity. To break down the barriers of awareness and consideration, Build A Life That Worksillustrates not just the benefits of a career with promising growth but also shares the great pride in building a legacy of Massachusetts developments. The campaign features real women in the building trades, now enjoying home ownership, quality time with their families, world travel and many more life moments and experiences, made possible with a career in construction. 

MAYOR WALSH OPENS NOMINATIONS FOR SPARK BOSTON'S ANNUAL IMPACT AWARDS

MAYOR WALSH OPENS NOMINATIONS FOR SPARK BOSTON'S ANNUAL IMPACT AWARDS

Awards shine a spotlight on young adults aged 20-34 doing outstanding work to improve the City

BOSTON - Thursday, April 19, 2018 - Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced nominations are now open for SPARK Boston's 2017-2018 Impact Awards. The annual Impact Awards shine a spotlight on young adults aged 20-34 doing outstanding work to improve the City of Boston. Nomination forms are available online, and will remain open through Friday, May 18, 2018.     "Boston is a city shaped by the actions and leadership of our residents, and our millennial population works especially hard to make their mark on our community," said Mayor Walsh. "The Impact Awards reflect the City's appreciation for this generation and the emerging leaders in our neighborhoods and industries."   "The Impact Awards are a grassroots recognition of Boston's leaders between the ages of 20 to 34," said Amy Mahler, SPARK Boston Director. "Nominees are submitted from our community, reviewed by our selection committee composed of SPARK Council members, and voted on by the Boston community. If you are or know of someone who deserves an Impact Award, nominate them today."   "The most amazing thing about the Impact Awards is being recognized by your peers and fellow change agents in communities across Boston," said Matt Parker, 2016 Impact Award winner and 2017-2018 SPARK Council Member. "SPARK and the City of Boston creates platforms lifting up the millennials that strive to lift up this great city. I am humble and blessed to receive such an award and look forward to this year's recipients."   This year's award categories reflect the diverse ways millennial residents act as leaders and change-makers in Boston: Arts & Culture: Visionaries who weave arts and culture into the fabric of our communities to engage and inspire those around them. Entrepreneurship & Innovation: Civic innovators who help our city attract and keep talented people, expand economic opportunity and create a culture of engagement. Activism & Issue Advocacy: Emerging leaders elevating the voices of young Bostonians on the issues that impact us all. Public Service & Civic Leadership: Public servants, elected officials and other civic leaders working to ensure strong democracy and successful governance in our city. Community Building & Neighborhood Improvement: Engaged citizens who work collaboratively to strengthen their neighborhoods and promote their communities' interests. "Unsung Heroes": Outstanding teachers, social workers, nurses, emergency responders and human services professionals whose everyday dedication supports a healthy, thriving city. Nominees must be between the ages of 20-34 and live/work in Boston to be considered. A selection committee comprised of members of the SPARK Boston Council will review all nominations and select the top nominees in each category. A round of online voting will follow, and winners will be announced at the SPARK Impact Award ceremony in June. To nominate a friend, colleague, neighbor or yourself, click here.

Malden High School Recognized Nationally For Outstanding Environmental Leadership

Malden High School Recognized Nationally For Outstanding Environmental Leadership
Honorees Recognized from across the Nation and Globe Attend Massachusetts Ceremony
 

BOSTON, MA – Malden High School was recognized at the State House last Friday by Project Green Schools during its Annual Green Difference Awards ceremony recognizing Outstanding National Environmental Education & STEM Education efforts led in Schools & Communities across the nation. The Green Difference Awards honored principals, teachers, advisors, citizens, schools, students and school groups/clubs from twelve states and the District of Columbia, as well as honorees from India, Singapore, Nigeria and Morocco. Malden High School was recognized with the Outstanding Commitment to Greenovation award for its Learn and Earn program.

“Malden students have shown us in so many ways that they are both our present and our future,” said Representative Steve Ultrino (D – Malden). “This national recognition affirms the leadership of Malden High School students and educators in taking action today to protect our environment and prepare for STEAM jobs and the green economy.” 
 
“We are thrilled to honor outstanding Environmental Leadership across the globe this week while shining a spotlight on our home state of Massachusetts,” said Robin Organ, Executive Director of Project Green Schools. “These leaders are helping to transform the way we think about and interact with our environment. Their extraordinary ideas and inspiring sustainability initiatives help make exactly the kind of impact needed to take on 21st Century challenges while creating a healthier future. Together, Project Green Schools and our sponsors, Current powered by GE, Planet Aid, National Grid and LaunchX, congratulate these green leaders for their achievements!”
  
Project Green Schools partners with over 6,300 schools and 500,000 students from over 43 U.S. states and 9 countries to facilitate the development of student leaders who have engaged in E-STEAM learning and projects and are pursuing higher education and jobs in the green workforce.

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 Project Green Schools (http://projectgreenschools.org) is developing the next generation of environmental leaders through hands-on, project-based, solutions-based learning, community service and action for students K-12. Students work at the intersection of STEM meets energy, environment and public health, while developing sustainable solutions, soft skills, as well as college and career readiness.

黎卓宇獲哈佛大學本科生最高藝術獎 Louis Sudler 獎

檔案照片，黎卓宇(右二)與父母，黎小堅(左起)，卓超英，以及中華
表演藝術基金會會長譚嘉陵。(周菊子攝)

            (Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導) 鋼琴家黎卓宇獲得哈佛大學藝術委員會表揚本科生全面成就的最高獎，Louis Sudler大獎。
                      哈佛大學藝術辦公室的藝術委員會4月18日宣佈，今年(2018)共有11名學生獲得大學本科生藝術獎。

過去35年來，共有140多名哈佛本科生獲頒此獎，藉以表揚他們在藝術上的成就。
這些獎項包括舞蹈，音樂，表演，視覺藝術等多個單項成就獎，但Louis Sudler是表揚全面成就的大獎，從1983年迄今，共45人獲得此獎。

哈佛大學發給黎卓宇的獎狀。(黎小堅提供)

評獎委員包括哈佛大學劇院，舞蹈及媒體資深講師Deborah Foster，美國劇院製作人Diane Borger，音樂系資深講師暨哈佛雷德克利夫交響樂團指揮Federico Cortese等14人。

2018年級的黎卓宇是Louis Sudler藝術獎得主。該獎表揚在作曲，或者在音樂，戲劇，舞蹈或其他視覺藝術表現上，最傑出的藝術天才及其成就，而且旨在表揚學生的整體成就。

黎卓宇在哈佛校內是溫卓普屋(Winthrop House)居民，主修英文，並追隨Kyung Byun修讀哈佛及新英格音樂學院的鋼琴雙學位。

黎卓宇獲得此獎是為表揚他作為鋼琴家的表現。華盛頓郵報稱讚他有驚人的技術實力，既給人他能統御的感覺，表達又有深度。

檔案照片，黎小堅提供。

黎卓宇也是2016年的Avery Fisher 鋼琴類職業獎助金得主，2015年國際柴可夫斯基比賽銀獎得主，他曾經在白宮為美國總奧巴馬招待德國總理墨克爾(Angela Merkel)的晚宴表演，2017年首度登上卡耐基(Carnegie)廳。在哈佛校園內，黎卓宇也和哈佛雷德克利夫(Harvard-Radcliffe)交響樂團合作表演。

他過去的音樂會亮點包括和Gustavo Dudamel及洛杉磯交響樂團，和Michael Tilson Thomas及舊金山交響樂團，和Manfred Honeck 及漢堡交響樂團等合作表演，和倫敦交響樂團及Giandrea Noseda巡迴亞洲，和Yuri Temirkanov及聖匹茲堡交響樂團，和Long Yu及愛樂樂團，Olso交響樂，Orchestre National de Lyon，鹿特丹(Rotterdam)交響樂，馬墨爾(Malmo)交響樂，韋爾比耶(Verbier)節交響樂，DSO 柏林，西雅圖交響樂團，猶他(Utah)交響樂，雪梨(Sydney)交響樂及法蘭克福電台交響樂。他也經常和Valery Gergiev 及Mariinsky 交響樂團一起出現，包括在巴黎愛樂，盧森堡愛樂，以及俄國的各個地方表演。黎卓宇是華納古典樂公司的專屬藝術家。(5/11/2018更新)

檔案照片，黎小堅提供。

LOUIS SUDLER PRIZE (outstanding artistic talent and achievement):
1983: Daniel Dodd Wilson, Dunster House (visual arts)
1984: William Rauch, Adams House, theatre (director)
1985: Marc A. H. Lowenstein, Cabot House (music)
1986: Christopher Liam Moore, Lowell House (theater, actor)
1987: Marya Cohn, Adams House, theatre (director/actor)
1988: Morley Robertson, Mather House (music)
1989: Alan Gilbert, Adams House (music)
1990: Lucy Soutter, Adams House (visual arts)
1991: David Eggar, Mather House (theater, music)
1992: Amy Cabranes, North House, theatre (director)
1993: Richard Nash, Adams House, theatre (director, writer)
1994: Ariane Anthony, North House, dance (dancer, choreographer)
1995: Brad Rouse, Dunster House, theatre (director)
1996: Matt Haimovitz, Kirkland House, music (cellist)
1997: Matt Saunders, Adams House, VES, theatre (actor, director, visual artist)
1998: Sybil-Catherine Watkins, Winthrop House (dance)
1999: Mai'a K. Davis, Currier House (dance)
2000: Joseph Lin, Mather House, music (violin)
2001: Brett Egan, Lowell House (acting); Elizabeth Waterhouse, Eliot House (dance)
2002: Christopher Hossfeld, Leverett House (music); Cary McClelland, affiliate of Pforzheimer House (theater); Jeff Sheng, Eliot House, visual arts (photography)
2003: Hazel Davis, Cabot House (music); Roberto "Pacho" Velez, affiliate of Adams House (visual arts/filmmaking)
2004: Anthony Cheung, Winthrop House (composition)
2005: Michael M. Donahue, Adams House (theatre); David Mahfouda, Dudley House, visual arts (performance art)
2006: Melissa Goldman, Mather House, theater (set designer); Han Yu, affiliate of Dudley House, visual arts (installation art)
2007: Stefan Jackiw, Leverett House, music (violin)
2008: Bong Ihn Koh, Cabot House, music (cello), & Elizabeth Lim, Cabot House, music (composer)
2009: Calla Videt, Dudley House, theater (director)
2010: Jack Cutmore-Scott, Dunster House, theater (actor)
2011: Charlie Albright, Leverett House (piano)
2012: Matthew Aucoin, Kirkland House (composer, conductor, music director, poet)
2013: Keir GoGwilt, Adams House (violin)
2014: Liv Redpath, Pforzheimer House (singer)
2015: Chase Morrin, Quincy House (composer and jazz pianist)
2016: Alistair Debling, Adams House (director, installation artist)
2017: Alexander (Sasha) Scolnik-Brower, Winthrop House (musician, conductor)
2018: George Li, Winthrop House (pianist)

波士頓馬拉松賽今年獎金更高 冠軍15萬元

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)波士頓馬拉松賽自從約翰漢考克金融服務公司(John Hancock Financial Services)33年前，1986，開始贊助後，參賽者就不只拿獎，還得金。今年總共要領走83萬元獎金，以及22萬元表現津貼。

男，女冠軍各得15萬元，第二名7萬5000元，第三名4萬元，第四名2萬5000元，第五名1萬5000元，第六名1萬2000元，然後第7到第15名，獎金依序為9000，7400，5700，4200，2600，2100，1800，1500。

約翰漢考克公司今年邀請了共46名來自13個不同國家的精英，參加波士頓馬拉松賽，其中有26名男生，20名女生，6名往年波士頓馬拉松賽冠軍，17名Abbott 世界馬拉松大賽優勝者，23名奧林匹克賽參賽者，以及6名國家紀錄締造者，包括巴林(Bahrain)，哥倫比亞，德國，墨西哥，荷蘭，美國。Buzunesh Debo還是波士頓馬拉松賽女子組的紀錄締造者，2小時19分59秒。

Nellie Mae Foundation Awards Two $275,000 Grants to Boston Public Schools

Nellie Mae Foundation Awards Two $275,000 Grants to Boston Public Schools

For Innovative Approaches to Redesigning Teaching and Learning Environments

BOSTON — Wednesday, April 18, 2018 — The Nellie Mae Education Foundation has awarded the Boston Public Schools (BPS) two grants of $275,000 each to help expand innovative, student-centered learning practices. “I would like to thank the Nellie Mae Education Foundation for supporting our teachers and school leaders as they discover the best and most effective learning models to reach our students,” said Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “It is important that our educators continue to improve their techniques to make sure our students are ready for the careers of tomorrow.” The first grant will fund the design of the BPS Innovation Incubator, which helps promote one of the district’s core values, innovation, by growing the capacity of teams at schools to redesign and problem-solve. Over the next 18 months, the Innovation Incubator will engage School Retool, a design-thinking fellowship developed at Stanford University’s Design School and Ideo, the world’s premier design-thinking firm. Twenty-one teams from BPS schools serving grades 6-12 will, in essence, become innovation engines creating student-centered learning models in their schools. The second grant, a collaboration between BPS and the Boston Teachers Union (BTU), will help facilitate professional development for teachers and school leaders on expanding and improving student-centered learning. Funds will be used to improve and personalize professional learning for high school teachers, with the goal of empowering teacher voice in the design and implementation of professional development. This effort will be led by a “networker,” an innovative new teacher leadership role. The networker connects teachers with shared learning interests to one another for teacher-led professional learning. "This is a great example of two sustainable models for meaningful and teacher-led professional development,” said Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconto. “This would not be possible without the collaborative work between the Boston Public Schools and the Boston Teachers Union.” Student-centered learning is a crucial catalyst for the new BPS “College, Career, and Life” definition, which promotes the redesign of our schools to enable students to set a vision, choose a course, change course, build competence, and work with others. These are the capabilities our students need to succeed in the ever-changing global economy. "In the Boston Public Schools, we are committed to growing innovation, which we define as creating a culture of change that can generate new solutions in the classroom,” BPS Superintendent Tommy Chang said. “Both of these grants grow our innovation capacity in a rapidly changing, technology-driven world of work.” “We are proud to have been awarded the ‘Building Teacher Leadership’ grant from Nellie Mae and to collaborate on this important project,” said BTU President Jessica Tang. “Teachers and students in Boston do innovative work every day, and we believe that including teacher voice, experience, and expertise in important district decisions like the design of professional learning represents an opportunity to make learning even more relevant and impactful for students and teachers in our high schools.”

盛曉玫音樂會(圖片)

元極舞海外研習營圖片 - 謝開明專輯

謝開明專輯

https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipO_PkxyHK4UPTHLMletVOx5JII379M7j1PX4Ct37U8RFLY98rjkTRHbAvdzJcpx8Q?key=SWVIZDBqSDFwb0RHdjlpc0w2b3U4blRFNTVKYnF3

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW STATE GRANT TO BOOST FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

MAYOR WALSH ANNOUNCES NEW STATE GRANT TO BOOST FORECLOSURE PREVENTION PROGRAMS

Funding will expand programs; cites drop in foreclosure petitions in Boston

BOSTON - Tuesday, April 17, 2018 -  Mayor Martin J. Walsh today announced the Boston Home Center (BHC) has been awarded a $190,000 grant for its work on foreclosure prevention. The grant, from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Division of Banks, is part of $1.5 million in statewide grants from the Division of Banks that will fund first-time homeownership counseling programs and foreclosure prevention education centers throughout the Commonwealth. The City's grant funding will be applied to its foreclosure prevention and home preservation counseling programs. "I am proud of the progress we've made on preventing foreclosures, and this grant will help the Boston Home Center continue its important work, making sure homeowners are able to stay in their homes," said Mayor Walsh. "I want to thank the Commonwealth for their partnership and the important progress we have made creating stable housing for families in Boston. Boston will continue to be a city that works to strengthen and support its middle class." The announcement of the new funding award comes as the City's Department of Neighborhood Development (DND), which tracks foreclosure data, released its latest Foreclosure Trends Report. The released report notes that from 2016 to 2017, foreclosure petitions -- the first step in the foreclosure process -- decreased by 22 percent, while completed foreclosures decreased by 15 percent. The Boston Home Center's foreclosure prevention and intervention services have been extremely effective. Among the top ten most populous Massachusetts cities, Boston ranks ninth in the rate of foreclosure petitions and foreclosure deeds per 1,000 residential parcels, while Boston's foreclosure petition rate and foreclosure deed rates are 30 percent lower than the statewide rate for petitions and less than half the statewide rate of foreclosures, respectively. Working with community partners, the Boston Home Center identifies and proactively reaches out to homeowners early in the foreclosure process, before homeowners are either petitioned or foreclosed upon. As a result, the Boston Home Center and its partners in the non-profit community were able to successfully prevent 262 homeowners from being foreclosed upon in 2017. The BHC will use these new funds to: Maintain and expand the foreclosure prevention and intervention work of the Boston Home Center and its nonprofit counseling partners; Expand marketing and outreach for the Boston Home Center's foreclosure program; Establish new partnerships with key organizations assisting homeowners; and Create programs serving linguistic minority groups in all Boston neighborhoods. The new grant will also help fund partner non-profit agencies who provide regional foreclosure prevention counseling services, and help those agencies better market their prevention programs. Non-profit partners provide free confidential foreclosure counseling to Boston homeowners.     Helping homeowners make sound financial decisions has proven to be the most effective way of keeping foreclosures in check and stabilizing Boston's housing market. To that end, Boston Home Center serves as a one-stop resource for Boston residents, providing them with the tools they need to purchase a new home, helping homeowners with needed repairs, and counseling homeowners who are facing credit or financial problems. Building on his commitment to make housing more accessible to all, and to assist those experiencing housing crisis, last week Mayor Walsh proposed additional housing investments in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget proposal. Through the Office of Housing Stability, which aims to support renters in housing crisis, preserve tenancy and prevent displacement, Mayor Walsh is proposing investments to expand the capacity and effectiveness, including: $150,000 for flexible financial assistance for low and moderate income households facing a housing crisis who are not eligible for existing programs; $125,000 for expanded legal representation and stabilization services for renters facing eviction in Housing Court and District Court; $35,000 increase for the Emergency Housing Assistance Program to assist residents displaced by fire, condemnation, natural disaster and other events; Funding for an additional case manager to support renters facing housing crisis; and additional staff at the Elderly Commission to support tenant or home-owning seniors with their housing needs. To date, the Walsh Administration has committed more than $100 million in funding to the creation and preservation of affordable housing. Today's announcement builds on the City's preservation and anti-displacement goals, outlined in Housing a Changing City: Boston 2030, Mayor Walsh's housing plan, and the housing goals laid out in Imagine Boston 2030, Boston's first citywide plan in 50 years. As part of both plans, Boston has prioritized increasing the overall housing supply, with a focus on creating and preserving affordable housing.