Budget & Taxes

This bill appropriates $425 million from the General Fund for supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused families in Massachusetts, supplementing existing housing programs. It requires emergency housing applicants to disclose unsealed criminal convictions (excluding sealed/expunged records) and mandates criminal background checks before program placement. The bill limits eligibility for families with no other children to six consecutive months of benefits, with extensions possible for documented hardships like domestic violence, veteran status, or disabilities. It also requires translated informational handouts about resources and benefit duration for recipients, applying to the emergency housing assistance program.

This bill allocates $425 million from the General Fund for supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused families in Massachusetts, with funds transferable to state agencies and workforce programs. It adds new requirements for the emergency housing assistance program, including mandatory disclosure of prior criminal convictions (excluding sealed/expunged records) and criminal record checks for applicants. The bill limits eligibility for certain families to six consecutive months of benefits, with hardship waivers available for veterans or those facing domestic violence. It also mandates written notices before benefit termination, multilingual resource handouts for participants, and updated eligibility procedures.