Senator Eldridge Secures $250,000 Earmark for Ayer Residents Facing Mass Eviction in ARPA Budget

State funding will support legal defenses of Devenscrest neighborhood families

Boston, MA - With Governor Charlie Baker signing the $4 billion ARPA and FY2021 Surplus Budget on Monday, December 13th, State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Acton) is very proud to announce that he has secured a $250,000 earmark to provide support to Devenscrest residents in the town of Ayer, who are facing an attempted mass eviction by the new property owner, Brady Sullivan Realty. Earlier this year, Brady Sullivan Realty issued over 40 eviction letters to Devenscrest households, many of whom have lived in the Ayer working class neighborhood for decades. The money will help provide additional funding to the Mass Law Reform Institute (MLRI), which is helping provide legal defenses to keep the Devenscrest families in their homes. 

“The cruel housing displacement happening in Ayer is the worst mass eviction I have seen in my 20 years as a legislator. I will continue to stand in solidarity with the tenants over this attempted mass eviction,” said Senator Eldridge.  “It’s critical to recognize that this purchase of the Devenscrest apartments is not happening in a bubble, but rather is part of a disturbing pattern of well-financed developers purchasing distressed properties during the pandemic, removing working families and long-time residents from their communities. I’m not going to give up and allow this corporation to walk all over some of my most vulnerable constituents in the Nashoba Valley region. I am deeply grateful for the advocacy of the Devenscrest Tenants Association, Northeast Legal Aid, and MLRI, for their amazing support and work for these Ayer residents.” 

“We are grateful to Governor Baker and Sen. Eldridge for the use of ARPA funds to support the residents of the Devenscrest housing development in the fight to save their homes, by maintaining the long term affordability of Devenscrest and preventing housing instability and displacement. As we approach the holiday season, the colder weather, the uncertainty surrounding COVID, and looming court dates, these funds are vital to help the families, children, and residents of Devenscrest stay safely and affordably housed, and prevent displacement,” said Georgia Katsoulomitis, Executive Director of Mass Law Reform Institute. “The strength and support for the Devenscrest residents continues to grow to prevent the attempted mass eviction of an entire community by out-of -state investors.”

Senator Eldridge was successful in securing earmarks for key investments across the Middlesex and Worcester District that he represents, including this $250,000 earmark for Devenscrest residents.

Watch video of Ayer tenants speak out about this issue.

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