A Beacon of Hope in Worcester: Etel Haxhiaj and the Washington Heights Response

WORCESTER-

In the heart of Worcester’s District 5, a fire displaced the residents of Washington Heights. Etel Haxhiaj, a dedicated representative of the district, shared updates and rallied support for the affected families.

“Thank you so much to all who have reached out about Washington Heights residents,” Etel began. As of last night, all families were placed in a local area hotel, their accommodations paid for by the management. Etel maintained contact with the management company, and the working group convened after the June fire to address any arising issues and expedite rehousing efforts.

The tenants organized themselves to provide essentials like diapers, formula, and clothing. Etel supported their efforts by reaching out to community partners. This incident highlighted the need for better policies on fire prevention, protection of aging housing stock, tenant organizing support, and aid for displaced residents.

“I will concentrate my efforts on supporting the day-to-day needs of our neighbors,” Etel pledged. She promised to update the community on any new needs and the central location for dropping off items. She collaborated with Emergency Management to find a suitable place for the tenant organizers.

Etel expressed her gratitude to the Worcester Fire Department and Emergency Management staff for their exceptional dedication and hard work. “Their big hearts, hard work, and dedication to our residents are absolutely second to none,” she stated.

She encouraged the community to follow her page for updates and emphasized the continued need for mutual aid efforts in the future.

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