The Worcester area was ranked the third-worst rental market in the U.S. according to Forbes data released this spring, confirming what we already know: our people are in a housing crisis.

On May Day, a crowd gathered on the steps of Worcester City Hall for a rally focused on housing. The rally was organized by the Worcester Community Labor Coalition, which Neighbor to Neighbor is proud to be part of alongside many community organizations and organized labor.

Executive Director Dálida Rocha and longtime Worcester member Gloria Ramirez spoke at the rally, joining the call for living wages, affordable housing, fair contracts, responsible development, and environmental justice.

“Workers may have an eight hour day today. However, workers are unable to afford homes that fit their family needs. Workers are being displaced and pushed out of their communities with limited access – or no access – to reliable public transportation,” said Dálida Rocha in her May Day speech. “Housing is a human right and today, May 1, 2024, we’re in the middle of a housing crisis not just here in Massachusetts but across the nation.”