An Act establishing peer respites throughout the Commonwealth

This bill establishes a network of 14 peer respite facilities across Massachusetts, with at least one in each county, to provide short-term, community-based support for adults experiencing emotional or mental distress. The program requires these facilities to be run by individuals with lived experience of behavioral health challenges and staffed by trained peer supporters who offer non-clinical, trauma-informed assistance focused on recovery and wellness. The legislation mandates that at least two facilities specialize in serving LGBTQIA+ individuals and two specialize in serving BIPOC community members, with management and operations led by members of those communities. Funding will be provided by the state to cover facility establishment, staff training and compensation, and ongoing operational costs, with new facilities required to begin operations within 18 months of receiving funding.