Massachusetts

Harvard Grad Student Helping Nahant Residents Facing Eviction From Town-Owned Homes

The town plans to demolish the so-called 'Coast Guard housing' and sell the land they bought from the federal government nearly 20 years ago.

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Harvard University graduate student Isis Patterson recruited help from a Harvard law student and an attorney to assist with more than a dozen Nahant residents, living in the so-called Coast Guard housing, who were told to appear in district court on Dec. 1.

A Harvard University graduate student is helping Nahant residents facing eviction from their town-owned homes.

Isis Patterson recruited help from a Harvard law student and an attorney to assist with more than a dozen Nahant residents, living in the so-called Coast Guard housing, who were told to appear in district court on Dec. 1.

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The group already helped some residents avoid going to district court, and instead go to housing court, with residents hoping to get a more sympathetic judge.

“It think it’s frustrating more than anything that they have to go through this and they have to really try to advocate on their own to a town that doesn’t seem too sensitive to the fact that they’ve lived there for more than a decade,” Patterson said.

The town plans to demolish the homes and sell the land they bought from the federal government nearly 20 years ago.

The town owes nearly $2 million on the loan due by 2024.

“It’s terrifying, yeah, it’s terrifying.” Lauren Barton, a Nahant resident facing eviction, said. “People think homelessness doesn’t happen to people like us, but I know it does.”

NBC10 Boston reached out Nahant town officials on Thursday, but did not hear back by the time this article was posted.

Residents in Nahant's Town-Owned ‘Coast Guard Housing' Face Eviction
The residents were given written warnings late last summer, but some say that they have been unable to find alternate housing
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