Precarity, which is described as “ living in a state of insecurity and instability due to living with insecure unemployment and income, is a prevalent issue in Massachusetts (Stephens, 2020). In 2022, the median household income in Massachusetts is about $96,000 (U.S. Census Bureau). However, many residents grapple with unstable employment conditions, inadequate access to affordable housing, and rising healthcare costs.

The gig economy has contributed significantly to this precarity, with a growing number of workers lacking job security, benefits, and stable incomes. Additionally, the high cost of living in cities like Boston has led to housing instability, pushing many residents to face the risk of eviction or homelessness. The lack of comprehensive social safety nets exacerbates these challenges, highlighting the urgent need for policies that address and mitigate the impacts of precarity on individuals and communities across the state.

When it comes to New Bedford specifically, the poverty rate is 20.9% and the median household income of 2022 was $53, 024 (U.S. Census Bureau).  Michele Paul points out that, ““a lot of lower-income folks live there, and if you’re living in a multi-story house without air conditioning, which most of them don’t have air conditioning when it’s 90 degrees outside, it’s 110 or 120 up on that third floor, its miserable”. Paul goes on to explain that a lot of the citizens who are low-income are immigrants. Paul further explains that a lot of the citizens who live in these multi-story houses and apartments are immigrants and oftentimes,  “when they have complained about conditions in the housing, the landlords basically tell them to go back where they came from or go find another place to live” . This demonstrates that people are essentially forced to live in these poor conditions, thus impacting their well-being.

Addressing this issue is one thing, but actually solving it is the other piece of the puzzle. The NB Resilient Plan is ensuring equity amongst the citizens by implementing the Urban Tree Canopy project. Essentially, this plan involves plating trees in areas where there are a large amount of impervious surface. These areas are usually these low-income neighbors and multi-story housing units. This would decrease the heat island effect and enhance the well-being of the citizens.  Ensuring equity and justice aligns with Agyeman’s third condition. By recognizing differing values, goals, and cultures, we will be able to achieve equity, especially economic equity, in New Bedford. Furthermore, the Urban Tree Canopy project demonstrates the mission to live within the ecosystem limits. This project creates an optimal environment for multiple forms of living. This not only includes humans, but also animals. Thus, this directly ties to the last condition of Agyeman’s four conditions of just sustainabilities.