SHARE recently received the following notice about the useful aid offered by the Family Services of Central Massachusetts Mediation Department:
The Family Services of Central Massachusetts (FSCM) Mediation Department, an Affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation, is a Worcester based Community Mediation Program covering all of Worcester County. Our Housing Mediation Program offers FREE mediation services to landlords and tenants. The pandemic has led to a growing number of eviction cases, and an increase in our homeless population. Part of Governor Baker’s comprehensive Eviction Diversion Initiative is The Massachusetts Housing Mediation Program, a statewide program that uses mediation as a homelessness prevention and housing stability vehicle to help mitigate the human and economic costs of eviction.
FSCM Mediation is voluntary, meaning both landlord and tenant must agree to mediate. FSCM Mediation confidential, meaning anything said in mediation remains with our program and we do not report to anyone with a couple exceptions: if someone says they are going to hurt themselves or someone else, or commit a crime. This is an important distinction because the Housing Court mediation process is not confidential. Court Dispute Resolution Specialists can report “mediation” conversations to the Judge. FSCM Mediators are neutral. We do not take sides, impose solutions, or tell parties what to do. Our Mediators help parties have a conversation to see if they can make their own decisions about moving forward.
FSCM free housing mediation is best utilized prior to OR at the time of Notice to Quit being served upon tenant by landlord and when a case is about to be or is first filed with the Housing Court (called TIER I). The more we can help landlords and tenants get ahead of needing a court process, the more we can help eradicate our community housing crisis, free up court backlog, and preserve family stabilization.
We offer mediation services in both English and Spanish. To learn more about The Family Services of Central Massachusetts (FSCM) Mediation Department, please visit our website: https://www.sevenhills.org/programs/mediation/