Senator Eldridge and Representative Sena Applaud Attorney General Campbell for Environmental Justice Grant Award for Devenscrest Tenant Association in Ayer
Award will fund housing remediation, open space, and tenant advocacy at Devenscrest Village Apartments
AYER-- State Senator Jamie Eldridge (D-Marlborough) and State Representative Danillo Sena (D-Acton) are proud to announce that Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has awarded $100,000 to the Devenscrest Tenant Association as one of twelve inaugural Environmental Justice Fund grant recipients.
The Environmental Justice Fund was established in the Commonwealth’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, designed to support community-based projects that address environmental harms in disadvantaged communities and funded through civil penalties obtained in judgments and settlements in the Attorney General’s Office (AGO)’s Environmental Protection Division. The twelve selected grantee proposals aim to support projects that improve clean air, safe water, and a healthy environment across the commonwealth.
Providing $100,000 of grant assistance, the award slated for the Devenscrest Tenant Association will be used to support various projects at the Devenscrest Village Apartment Complex, including developing open space and playground(s), tenant and community housing advocacy training, and apartment mold and asbestos remediation and restoration. Recently, through the support of the Healey-Driscoll administration, Northeast Legal Aid and the Mass Law Reform Institute, the Devenscrest Village Apartments was sold in order to preserve the affordability of the 114 rental housing units.
“The Environmental Justice Fund is a landmark achievement to stimulate sensible environmental justice solutions across the state by holding polluters accountable,” said State Senator Jamie Eldridge. “This award will support critical projects at the Devenscrest Village Apartment Complex, advocating for the state’s support for dignified housing that prioritizes community health and well-being. I am extremely grateful to Senator Adam Gomez and Rep. Brandy Fluker-Reid for championing this initiative through the FY25 budget process, and for Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s selection of exceptional grantees supporting projects that will improve environmental efforts and promote healthy housing opportunities, including the award in Ayer.”
“This funding is essential to supporting projects at the Devenscrest Village Apartment Complex,” said Rep. Dan Sena. “The Environmental Justice Fund is an incredible achievement to promote justice and to hold polluters accountable, and I’m thankful for the work of Attorney General Andrea Campbell in awarding these grants where the funds will make an impact.”
“The Devenscrest Tenant Association is very grateful for this award from the Environmental Justice Fund and looks forward to using it to further our work to benefit our community's health and well-being. We hope that tenants, including those in other Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, will be inspired to fight to preserve their housing and enforce their rights to a clean, healthy environment,” said the Devenscrest Tenant Association.
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