MAAP Coalition Meeting: Rental Registries and Their Role in Promoting Healthy Housing

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On April 2nd, 2025, experts from Boston and Worcester discussed their cities’ rental registry programs aimed at improving housing conditions through proactive inspections.

Boston’s Rental Registry
Boston’s Inspectional Services Department oversees the city’s rental registry, ensuring all rental units are safe and sanitary.

  • Registration: Required for all rental units, with options to register online, by mail, or in person.

  • Inspection Ordinance: A re-written ordinance allows for proactive inspections.

  • Metrics: Success is measured by complaints and the number of registered units.

Worcester’s Rental Registry
Worcester’s program, now in the inspection phase, aims to improve housing quality by targeting areas with health disparities.

  • Proactive Inspections: Data from UMass Medical School guides prioritization of areas for inspection.

  • Inclusion: Covers all rental properties except owner-occupied units in multifamily buildings.

  • Costs: $15 for the first inspection, $5 for renewals.

  • Compliance: Landlords must live within 60 miles of the property or designate a local property manager.

Compliance and Data Use
Both cities emphasize compliance. Worcester uses fines and failure-to-register letters, while Boston calls landlords directly to enforce registration. Data, such as health metrics, helps identify priority inspection areas.

Success Metrics

  • Boston: Focuses on the number of complaints and new registrants.

  • Worcester: Aims for 60% registration of known rental units.

By utilizing data and proactive inspection strategies, both cities are working to create safer and healthier housing environments.

MAAP Coalition Meeting: Advancing Asthma Care: Emerging Therapies and Guidelines with Dr. Robyn Cohen

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On February 5th, 2025, Dr. Robyn Cohen, a pediatric pulmonologist at Boston Medical Center, delivered a compelling presentation at the MAAP Coalition Meeting, "Advancing Asthma Care: Emerging Therapies and Guidelines." The session provided valuable insights into the latest developments in asthma management for children, with a focus on improving care for all children, irrespective of their clinic attendance. 

Dr. Cohen discussed her work with WellSense and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to bridge asthma care gaps. She also shared her expertise on the recent updates to asthma medication guidelines, including the SMART (Single Maintenance and Reliever Therapy) and AIR (Anti-inflammatory Reliever) approaches. Dr. Cohen emphasized the need for targeted interventions to address asthma-related disparities, particularly in reducing emergency visits among children from minority communities. 

Key takeaways from the session include: 

  • The 2020 asthma management updates, recommending a combination inhaler for moderate persistent asthma to streamline treatment. 

  • The importance of regular asthma assessments and clarifying common confusion around inhaler use. 

  • Dr. Cohen’s insights on biologics for severe asthma patients, highlighting how these treatments target the root causes of symptoms and improve patient outcomes. 

The session also covered efforts by MassHealth WellSense ACO to enhance asthma management, access to biologics for Medicaid patients, and the services offered by the Boston Public Health Commission. 

HEAL Districts Present at the MAAP Coalition Meeting!

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On December 4th, 2024, the HEAL districts hosted a dynamic presentation at the MAAP Coalition Meeting, “From Policies to Practice: How Schools Are Adapting for Asthma-Friendly Learning.” This meeting brought together key stakeholders to share the innovative ways in which schools are implementing asthma-friendly policies and practices. The districts presented their strategies for improving environmental health conditions and highlighted the short-term actions and policies they are piloting to support students with asthma. 

To learn more about the projects and the valuable insights shared, you can watch the full recording of the meeting and access the presentation materials [here]. 

Additionally, the following key resources were shared during the session: 

For more specific guidance on extreme heat policies, the following resources were highlighted: 

 

lynn handbook

Holyoke Public Schools' Extreme Heat Policy and Resources 

Haverhill public schools, emergency action plan

new bedford heal presentation

MAAP Coalition Meeting: Understanding Air Quality: Insights from the Healthy Air Network

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On October 2, 2024, the MAAP Coalition hosted a valuable session focused on local air quality issues, their impact on public health, and strategies to improve our environment. This meeting provided participants with insights into regional trends and findings, specifically from Western Massachusetts. 

The session featured expert presentations from Sarita Hudson of the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Billy Spitzer from the Hitchcock Center for the Environment, and Destiny Gonzalez from Health Resources in Action. They shared critical data from their ongoing work, offering a closer look at air quality challenges and their direct effects on public health. 

Presenters discussed key strategies for improving air quality at the community level, empowering participants with practical knowledge to tackle these issues locally. Attendees walked away with a deeper understanding of how air pollution impacts public health and how communities can collaborate to make meaningful changes for cleaner, healthier environments.