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My Name is Lyly Dixson, I live in Springfield MA. I am upset about the conditions that I am forced to live in. This is not the American Dream I work for. My landlord and many other Slumlords like him take advantage of the fact that they can offer such ill-kept places for "cheap" while it has all sorts of mold, pests and rotting foundations. My elderly mother in law has to use a cane up and down the crooked stairs, and she's already fallen on the cracked drive way before. We stay here to help her as well, but my husband and I couldn't afford to live anywhere else anyway- plus they'd be the same or worse.

He increased the rent but didn't solve any of the problems we reported multiple times to him.

There are many things that could be done to prevent this. But there isn't a way to change the past. We can learn from it to prepare for a better future:

Freedom from discrimination: Enforce existing laws that prohibit landlords from denying a tenant rental housing based on race, physical or mental ability, and family make-up, and expand protections to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, immigration status, conviction and/or arrest history, bankruptcy history, eviction history, or credit score.
Safe, quality, accessible housing standards: Require all landlords to keep their properties in good condition, and to ensure homes are accessible for people with disabilities. No renter should have to live in an inaccessible home or in housing conditions that put their health and safety at risk.
Landlord registry: Tenants should have access to information about their landlord including their name and phone number.
Tenant right to organize: Tenants have the right to form tenants’ unions or resident councils free from fear of retaliation from the landlord or managing agent. Ownership and management representatives must not interfere with the creation or actions of tenant organizations.
Fair leases: Landlords must use standardized and clearly defined leases free of abusive terms.
Office of Tenant Protections: A team charged with protecting tenants and enforcing their rights in properties with federally backed mortgages.
Office of Tenant Protections: A team charged with protecting tenants and enforcing their rights in properties with federally backed mortgages.