What's new at MLS

We are writing to alert you to two important briefings this week involving the federal “public charge” rule, as well as urge your support in getting more MA Members of Congress to co-sponsor the LIFT the Bar Act.  Public charge briefings Feb 2nd and Feb…

We hope you and your loved ones braved Saturday's epic winter storm - over 2 feet of snow in some parts of MA, extremely high wind gusts and extensive power outages  - especially on the South Shore, Cape and Islands. See Boston Globe story from noon Sunday. The Mass Emergency…

We have a bunch of follow up items from yesterday’s SNAP Coalition meeting. Over 118 attendees! Huge thanks to both FRAC and DTA for attending and giving excellent presentations. We will follow up separately with federal updates. Here's some key items discussed yesterday. Feb 8th…

A number of updates below. We know this email is long, but it is all important! Please let us know if you have any issues or questions - otherwise we look forward to “seeing” you on Tuesday! SNAP Coalition meeting on Tuesday, 1/25!   Our next Coalition meeting will be…

Before the long weekend, we are excited to share some important updates and resource from USDA and USCIS that may be helpful in your SNAP and cash advocacy for the immigrant communities you serve. USDA and USCIS issue joint letter to state on SNAP and public charge  On Wednesday, January…

See updates and training opportunities below. Our next Coalition meeting will be Tues January 25th from 10-11:30 - agenda and Zoom link to come! Tips on ways to connect with DTA to  help your clients  As we shared in yesterday’s eblast, DTA local offices have been closing…

Greetings all.  We hope you are continuing to stay healthy and safe as Omicrom rips through the Commonwealth’s schools, work places, hospitals and more.  Hang in there! FRAC Webinar tomorrow, January 11th at 4 PM EST re SNAP’s Shelter Cap We are thrilled to let you…

  DTA shipped out this email this AM re all DTA offices being closed. Note that some offices were independently closed this week due to Covid infections among staff and we do not know what that looks like. For households in need of emergency EBT cards, the DTA Assistance Line and/or Ombuds…

  Happy New Year!  We hope you are continuing to stay healthy and safe, and especially now with the pandemic continuing to ramp up.  But we have some great action steps while you hunker down.  At 11 AM today, the Joint Committee on Higher Education is hearing legislation…

Does the US Census count matter for Massachusetts?  Absolutely!  Everything from how many Congressional Districts we have to the allocation of certain federal means-tested dollars to the state and more.  Thanks to our friends at AARP Massachusetts (why reinvent the wheel?),…