The Arise  H.E.J. Committee at Arise is made up of Arise members and community members who care passionately about creating and preserving clean, safe and affordable housing for all people.

 

Our members and staff have faced housing and economic crisis of their own. We remember how isolating and painful it was having to ask "agencies" for help. Because we remember...because we are tired of being treated as less than...because we are angry...because we want better for the future...we learned to do it for ourselves...and we help others to learn how to do it too.

 

We understand the challenges that face our communities when it comes to finding affordable housing, and navigating the process of shelter. Our committee works to bring awareness to these issues, advocates for and educates community members as to what their rights are, guides community members through these complicated processes, and pushes for new, more fair, and just policies to end homelessness. We work to hold landlords, the city, and the state accountable to the residents in Springfield.

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We believe housing and shelter are human rights not a privilege. We promote the right to housing, shelter and economic justice, including changing state and city regulations and forcing Springfield policymakers to develop a housing plan which meets the needs of all the people who reside in Springfield.

 

To learn more, or to get involved, contact the Arise Housing and Economic Justice Organizer, Liz Bewsee at Liz@arisespringfield.org, or call the Arise office at 413-734-4948.