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Teachers urge council to keep Access to Counsel program to prevent student homelessness
Summary
Teachers and school staff asked the council to maintain funding for the Access to Counsel pilot, saying legal representation for families facing eviction kept students housed and supported their attendance and learning.
Teachers from Boston Public Schools urged the Ways and Means Committee to include continued funding for the Access to Counsel program in the FY26 budget, saying legal representation for families facing eviction helps keep students in school and avoids disruptive moves.
Hannah Hovind, a music teacher at UP Academy Holland in Dorchester, said she sees “at least one to two students in every classroom” who are experiencing homelessness and called Access to Counsel “an extra safeguard” that helps families facing eviction. James Cordero, a BPS teacher and Dorchester resident, said the program has helped roughly 90 families and noted the district spends about $20 million yearly transporting homeless students to their assigned schools.
Both teachers asked councilors to include the pilot in the next budget cycle so families and students retain legal support and housing stability. Committee members did not vote at the hearing; they said they will consider testimony during working sessions as they weigh proposed amendments.
