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Advocates press for statewide law to prevent bullying of elderly and disabled residents in housing
Summary
A coalition including tenant advocates, former commissioners and residents urged lawmakers to pass S‑1007 / H‑1525 to require anti‑bullying plans in public and subsidized housing, with oversight and enforcement mechanisms tied to the attorney general’s office.
Tenant advocates, victims and legal experts urged the Joint Committee on Housing to pass legislation aimed at preventing and responding to bullying and mobbing in elderly and disabled housing.
The bills — Senate 1,007 (Sen. Lovely) and House 15‑25 (Rep. Kevin Honan) — would require housing providers to develop site‑specific anti‑bullying plans, establish reporting mechanisms and provide training so staff can recognize and respond to bullying, including cyberbullying. “The bill would enable housing providers to create a safer, more supportive community setting and thus help to reduce bullying and mobbing,” said Jerry Halberstadt, coordinator of the Stop Bullying Coalition.
Witnesses described repeated failures by housing providers to intervene and cited examples in public and HUD‑funded developments where managers or other residents created hostile environments. Pamela Goodwin described multiple complaints and eviction threats she said followed her reporting of harassment; “I chose to sleep in my car. I moved everything out of my apartment, and I became homeless of my own free will, at the age of 71,” she told the committee.
Provisions discussed included a model plan drafted by the attorney general’s office or a designated division, training for staff, anonymous complaint channels and the possibility of additional enforcement or oversight such as a tenant advocate office. Witnesses asked the committee to consider stronger oversight and accountability to ensure housing providers meet their legal obligations to prevent harassment.
The committee took testimony from multiple tenant leaders and housing advocates and invited written materials. No votes were taken at the hearing.
Ending: Supporters asked the committee to report the bills favorably and work with the attorney general’s office to craft enforceable compliance mechanisms; lawmakers said they would continue discussions with stakeholders.
