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February 26, 2025
Hello!
It's almost time for our February Housing and Benefits Committee meeting, coming up this Friday, February 28th, 10:00–11:30 a.m. on Zoom. Please RSVP and plan to join us!
Here is our agenda:
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Overview of Massachusetts Youth Count 2024 Report – Presented by Julia Garvey, Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
- The Massachusetts Youth Count is biennial survey conducted by the Massachusetts Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission (UHYC) to understand the needs and demographics of youth and young adults under the age of 25 who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The Youth Count partners with young people, service providers, and community organizations to conduct the survey, offering leadership opportunities and connecting participants to resources. The data collected informs advocacy and programming to address youth homelessness.
- The 2024 Youth Count report was released by the UHYC on January 29, 2025 and can be accessed here.
- Previous Youth Count reports and other reports from the Massachusetts Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission can be accessed here.
- Resources for Immigrants and Refugees and Upcoming Know Your Rights Trainings – Presented by Ana Chavez Andonie, Corporate Engagement Specialist, Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition (MIRA)
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MIRA is the largest coalition in New England promoting the rights and integration of immigrants and refugees. With offices in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, they advance this mission through education and training, leadership development, institutional organizing, strategic communications, policy analysis and advocacy.
- Resources:
- Immigration Helpline
- Know Your Rights
- Upcoming trainings: https://miracoalition.org/know-your-rights-trainings/
- Recorded trainings: https://miracoalition.org/know-your-rights-recorded-presentations-and-slides/
- Print materials in multiple languages: https://miracoalition.org/know-your-rights-print-materials-in-multiple-language/
- Massachusetts Immigrant Information Exchange (MIIE) Group and Listserv - open to any individual or organization working with or advocating for immigrants in Massachusetts
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MIRA is hosting their annual Immigrants’ Day at the State House (IDSH) on March 18–19, 2025 to celebrate the contributions of immigrants in our Commonwealth and advocate for their legislative and budget priorities. This year's IDSH will include a conference in Cambridge on March 18th and an advocacy day at the State House on March 19th. More information can be found here.
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Updates on the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter System and the FY25 Supplemental Budget – Presented by Kelly Turley, Associate Director, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
- Today, February 26th, the Senate passed the compromise bill with a vote of 32 YEAS to 23 NAYS: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H58, and sent it to the Governor's desk.
- On February 25th, the House passed the compromise bill, H.61, with a vote of 128 YEAS to 23 NAYS: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H58, and sent it to the Senate.
- House and Senate leaders ironed out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the pending FY25 supplemental budget, which would provide $425 million for Emergency Assistance (EA) and related programs, as well as make major changes on access to shelter benefits.
- A comparison of the final Senate and House versions is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10C565nrjUPnUS7pCmte4FLQ65ecnsoiG/view?usp=drive_link
- An overview of the compromise budget can also be found in the Coalition's chart: https://tinyurl.com/senate-ea-supp
- On February 12th, the Senate debated and voted on their version of the pending supplemental budget, Amendment S.16.
- Here is a chart of key amendments filed by Senators and their outcomes: https://tinyurl.com/senate-ea-supp
- The amended version, Amendment S.17, was passed to be engrossed with 33 YEAS to 6 NAYS: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H58
- On February 6th, the House of Representatives debated and voted on their version of the pending supplemental budget, Bill H.57.
- Here is a chart of key amendments filed by Representatives and their outcomes: https://tinyurl.com/house-ea-supp
- The amended version was passed to be engrossed with 126 YEAS to 26 NAYS: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H58
- On January 15th, Governor Healey proposed significant changes to the Right to Shelter law in a letter to the Legislature. These proposed changes would further erode the Right to Shelter and limit access to shelter for children experiencing homelessness.
- The proposed changes:
- Reduce the length of stay limit from 9 months to 6 months and eliminate most extension possibilities
- Allow state officials to remove an unlimited number of families from EA shelter, by removing the weekly cap on terminations
- Impose a statutory residency requirement
- Eliminate presumptive eligibility and require complete documentation at the time of application
- Exclude many immigrant families who otherwise meet strict shelter eligibility requirements
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On January 6th, Governor Healey filed a Fiscal Year 2025 supplemental budget request, House Bill 51, An Act Making Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2025 to Provide for Supplementing Certain Existing Appropriations and for Certain Other Activities and Projects.
- This bill would:
- Provide $425 million in supplemental FY25 funding from the Transitional Escrow Fund to fund the Emergency Assistance (EA) system and related resources for children and families experiencing homelessness. Existing funds are expected to be depleted by the end of the month.
- Restrict access to EA to 6 months, replacing the current 9-month limit, which already is harming families.
- Eliminate opportunities for families to seek up to two 90-day extensions to their time in EA shelter and require families to receive a waiver from the Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to stay in shelter beyond 6 months.
- Allow EOHLC to terminate an unlimited number of families each week from the EA program by removing the current cap of 150 families/week.
- Additional resources:
- Healey-Driscoll Administration Announces Systemwide Changes to Lower Shelter Costs (11/22/24)
- EA Guidance on Contact List and Prioritization Procedures (updated 12/10/24)
- Information on EA Contact List from EOHLC
- Policy FAQs (updated 12/12/24)
- Announcements and Invitations
- Join the Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, Citizens' Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), the MRVP Coalition, and key stakeholders for a day of advocacy to expand the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program on Wednesday, March 12th, 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. at the Church on the Hill.
- Flyer and registration: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yKVYV5r8hkcGLYF12KqeD6ELwe4LTRCm/view
- MRVP Fact Sheet
- Save the date for the Coalition's 2025 Legislative Action Day, hosted by State Representative Jim O'Day. Look forward to hearing from inspiring speakers, learning how to advocate with legislators, and meeting with your state legislators and legislative staff to talk about issues and policy recommendations to address homelessness in Massachusetts.
- Date: Monday, April 7, 2025
- Schedule: 10 a.m.–12 p.m.: Plenary session & 12–4 p.m.: Meetings with legislators
- Location: Massachusetts State House, The Great Hall (second floor)
- RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/mchlad25
Click here to RSVP for our February 28th meeting (or go to tinyurl.com/mch-hb-rsvp.)
Best wishes,
Julia and Kelly
Julia Garvey
Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate
Pronouns: She/her/hers
julia.garvey@mahomeless.org
Kelly Turley
Associate Director
Pronouns: She/her/hers
kelly@mahomeless.org
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