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Homeowners with crumbling foundations ask Gov. Healey to take action [Video]

Dozens of Massachusetts homeowners facing crumbling foundations went to Beacon Hill to plead with Gov. Maura Healey to take action. For years, state lawmakers have failed to move on a plan to financially help replace failing basements across the state, but now these homeowners say it’s time for the governor to stand behind her promises and move forward unilaterally.They believe Gov. Healey can use an executive order to form a commission that would study how the state can help and recommend a clear financial path forward, hopefully initiating some movement in the legislature.The governor’s office, however, would not weigh in on that proposal.”We need her help, and we need it now,” said Michelle Loglisci, founder of the group Mass Residents Against Crumbling Foundations, outside the Governor’s Office. “Here we are eight, almost nine years later, and nothing has happened to help this group of homeowners.”The homeowners whose basements are cracking and crumbling due to faulty concrete went door-to-door at the State House pushing for answers after a similar commission was suddenly cut out of a massive housing bill. The plan was removed by conference committee behind closed doors just before lawmakers voted on the bill this summer.”We did get an explanation, a little bit, of just time kind of ran out,” said Worcester County State Senator Ryan Fattman, who represents impacted homeowners. “That’s unacceptable because time is running out on these people’s homes. And something needs to happen.”Potentially thousands of homes in Massachusetts were built with concrete contaminated by pyrrhotite, a naturally-occurring mineral found underneath parts of New England. When pyrrhotite gets into concrete mix, it causes premature failing usually after just 20 or 30 years and leads to massive cracks, leaks and eventually collapse.The only fix is to jack up a home, tear out the basement and rebuild it, something that can cost $200,000. Insurance won’t cover the foundation replacement, and banks won’t issue loans for the problem because the home has lost its value, leaving homeowners to pay out from their own savings or retirement funds.Karen and Rick Riani drained $280,000 from their 401(k) plans to replace the foundation of their 19-year-old home in Holden.”Governor Healey please help us. Not years from now. Now,” said Karen Riani on the steps of the State House. “We need the help.”When Gov. Healey signed the housing bill this summer, she told NewsCenter 5 she would find a way to help impacted homeowners.”I sympathize with those homeowners,” she said this August after the bill signing event in Newton. “It’s a real challenge for those folks. And that’s my commitment, even though it didn’t make it into the bill, I’m still going to work to find ways to help folks.”Now, the homeowners and several lawmakers who represent them believe the governor can use executive authority to form a commission to study the issue and recommend a clear path forward. The makeup of a committee was already outlined in the version of the housing bill that passed the State Senate.For years, Connecticut has had a plan in place to offer homeowners up to $190,000 to replace a contaminated foundation, paid for through a $1 per month surcharge on every homeowner’s insurance policy in the state. The Massachusetts homeowners believe that’s an easy model to follow.The governor “can form this commission through executive order,” said State Senator Peter Durant. “That’s what we’re asking her to do so that we can get the ball rolling on this.””Please Governor Healey do the right thing,” said impacted homeowner Michelle Loglisci. “Be our Halloween superhero, and let’s get this commission rolling so we can get started.”A spokesperson for Gov. Healey would not comment on the governor using an executive order, instead saying in a statement: “The Healey-Driscoll Administration recognizes the importance of providing support to homeowners whose concrete foundations are crumbling. We will continue to work together with our partners in the Legislature to evaluate potential solutions that would provide relief to homeowners.”