Sites that are members of MassHousing’s Tenant Assistance Program (TAP) are entitled to dispute resolution services as a TAP benefit through a contract with Mediation Works Incorporated (MWI). MWI provides MassHousing/TAP member sites with services designed to help residents, staff, management, board members and other interested parties resolve conflict effectively and productively.


The following services are included in the dispute resolution benefit:

Mediation

A mediator (neutral) will come to the site to help people in conflict reach resolution. Mediation can be between tenants, tenants and staff, staff and staff, staff and management, management and management, as well as management and MassHousing to name a few.

Mediation is a process in which parties agree to work together, with the assistance of a trained neutral, to explore their respective interests and generate options for resolving their dispute. The mediator helps to facilitate communication and has no power to impose a resolution. Mediation is also a flexible process that allows the parties to discuss in confidence any issues they choose to address and determine the outcome.

Benefits of mediation include:

Ÿ High Success Rate
Ÿ Convenience
Ÿ Self-Determined Outcome
Ÿ Time Savings
Ÿ Preservation of Relationships

Examples of disputes that MWI has mediated at TAP sites include noise through the wall, floor or ceiling, deteriorating friendships, housekeeping issues, poor relationships among staff, and groups not getting along or not willing to share common areas.

Facilitation

A facilitator will come to the site to help a group of people have a productive conversation. Board members, managers, staff members or groups of tenants can utilize facilitation.  For groups of residents these sessions are often called “community discussions.” 

Facilitations have been used to address issues such as environments described as “negative” or “a broken building” due to the overall unhappy tone of the residents at a site.  Other examples include addressing cultural and ethnic tensions and dealing with an inactive or disbanded tenants’ council.


Consultation

TAP members can contact Tad Mayer at Mediation Works Incorporate (MWI), 617-973-9739 x26 to discuss a conflict or situation they are having trouble solving.  Consultation has been utilized by RSC’s, property managers and tenants to discuss options for resolving conflicts.


Please let us know how we can be helpful to you by filling out this short form.
 

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Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire.  For more information, please contact Linda McMahan, MassHousing at 617-854-1084 or Tad Mayer, MWI at 617-973-9739 x26 or tmayer@mwi.org. We will be in contact within two business days.

Please contact Mediation Works Incorporated mwi@mwi.org for more information.

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