MassBudget PolicyTALKS

An increasing number of Massachusetts residents are experiencing a housing affordability crisis. The ever-increasing burden of rent significantly impacts many aspects of people’s lives and communities, such as social determinants of health, access to transportation, and impact on climate change. In this PolicyTALKS, we will explore the increasing burden of rent across the Commonwealth, the social and economic impacts of unaffordable housing, and what the state can do about it.

Event Details

📅 Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2026

⏰ Time: 9:30 AM – 11:00 AM

📍 Location: Zoom (link sent with registration confirmation)

Why Attend?

• Join this space where we bring together experts on progressive policies to discuss proposed solutions and how to improve, implement, and/or propose new ones. 

• Understand how the housing affordability crisis is affecting Massachusetts and discuss what the state can do to address it.

MassBudget is a trusted voice for rigorous research and deep and critical public policy analysis. MassBudget specifically focuses on understanding the state budget through an equity lens.

Through our PolicyTALKS, we will provide a platform for informed dialogue and practical policy recommendations that lead to a racially and economically just Commonwealth.

Meet the panelists!

Moderator

Jessica Troe is the Deputy Director of Research and Policy Analysis, providing support and guidance to policy staff in carrying out MassBudget’s research and policy priorities. She also leads the analysis of the state budget, Fair Share Amendment implementation, and cannabis revenue.

Prior to joining MassBudget, Jessica worked at a variety of research organizations to advance equity in public policy.

Mayor Jake Wilson has called Somerville home for more than two decades and previously served as a City Council-At-Large, including as chair of the Finance Committee.

He is focused on delivering results by running an efficient, transparent municipal government that uses public dollars wisely and keeps residents informed and engaged. Before elected office, Mayor Wilson spent more than 20 years working in media and communications. He and his wife, Catherine, live in Winter Hill with their two daughters. 

Rose Webster-Smith started with Springfield No One Leaves (SNOL) as a member in 2011 when Freddie Mac foreclosed on her home. Fired up by her own experience of eviction, Rose began training and practicing civil disobedience to keep Big Banks from actively evicting families from their homes after foreclosure. She's sat-in and peacefully blocked two evictions, has helped to organize national mobilizations against mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is spearheading a statewide campaign to pass critical legislation to protect families and regulate banks, and supports other families in using civil disobedience. In 2015, she was hired as the junior organizer and in 2016 the members took over the organization. After fighting an eviction for 6 years, she won her home back in 2017. She is now the Executive Director overseeing all the work of SNOL.

Eric D. Batista has served as City Manager of Worcester since December 2022, guiding New England’s second-largest city through rapid growth with a focus on equity, innovation, and strong public services. His administration expanded affordable housing, strengthened public health and safety, and advanced diversity and inclusion. Batista launched Worcester 311, a Pavement Management Program, Keep Worcester Clean, and a Housing Production Plan, and led a five-year Strategic Plan to make Worcester the nation’s best-managed city. Appointed by Maura Healey to state housing and transportation leadership roles, Batista previously served as Assistant City Manager and Director of Urban Innovation.

Dr. Keren Horn is an Associate Professor of Economics at University of Massachusetts Boston. Her research lies at the intersection of urban and labor economics and examines how the places where people live shape economic opportunities and life outcomes. Her current work investigates how local job opportunities and housing costs influence the labor market experiences of displaced workers as they search for new employment. She is also studying how climate-related hazards affect workers’ employment trajectories, a line of research supported by the Russell Sage Foundation. In addition, she is examining whether differences in commute times across metropolitan areas contribute to earnings gaps between men and women. Professor Horn’s research has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Journal of Housing Economics, Urban Studies, and Housing Policy Debate. Her work has also been featured in major media outlets, including The New York Times, Bloomberg, and The Atlantic, where she has contributed to public discussions on housing, labor markets, and urban policy.