Housing (Homelessness)

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2594: An Act creating an interagency supportive housing finance and strategy board

By Mr. Feeney, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 991) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to create a interagency supportive housing finance and strategy board to end and prevent homelessness. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates interagency board to end homelessness via supportive housing finance, directly advancing affordable housing initiatives per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Housing Finance

Track

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1085: An Act to provide identification to youth and adults experiencing homelessness

HD 1085 requires Massachusetts to provide free state identification cards to homeless adults and unaccompanied homeless youth (under age 24 without stable housing or parental care). The bill mandates that state ID regulations include a fee waiver process and allow alternative proof of residency, such as documentation from homeless shelters, youth services, or state housing/human services agencies. It also requires the state registrar and secretary to create a formal agreement to implement these provisions. This directly affects individuals experiencing homelessness by removing financial and residency barriers to obtaining official identification. The policy change creates a concrete pathway for this population to access essential services requiring ID.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill provides free ID to homeless individuals, removing barriers to housing access via alternative residency proof from shelters/housing agencies, directly addressing homelessness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

signed · Massachusetts · House Feb 28, 2025

H 58: An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $425M from General Fund for housing services, increasing state spending on essential public support program.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill appropriates $425M for unhoused families' shelter and supportive services, directly funding housing programs addressing homelessness.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 4203: An Act to create an interagency supportive housing finance and strategy board

By Representative Mendes of Brockton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1552) of Rita A. Mendes for legislation to create an interagency supportive housing finance and strategy board. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill creates an interagency board to manage supportive housing finance and strategy, directly advancing affordable housing funding and development through dedicated governance structure.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Housing Finance

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 27, 2025

HD 4034: An Act to limit criminalization of the homeless

This bill (HD 4034) limits the criminalization of homelessness in Massachusetts by banning fines for "homeless camping" and preventing housing applications from being denied based on related offenses. It directly affects unhoused individuals who camp on public property due to lack of housing, defined as setting up temporary structures for shelter out of financial necessity. Key provisions include prohibiting cities from imposing fines for homeless camping (Section 4), blocking disclosure of such offenses in housing applications (Sections 1-2), and banning credit reporting of related fines (Section 6). The bill also defines "homeless camping" in Section 37 of Chapter 23B.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBans fines for homeless camping and prevents housing denial based on related offenses, reducing criminalization of homelessness - a core criminal justice reform.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBans fines for homeless camping and blocks housing denials due to related offenses, directly protecting unhoused individuals' access to housing.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 26, 2025

S 136: An Act improving emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness

By Mr. Gomez, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 136) of Adam Gomez for legislation to improve emergency housing assistance for children and families experiencing homelessness. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly improves emergency housing assistance for homeless children/families, directly addressing homelessness under housing topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 9, 2026

H 3060: An Act facilitating housing for all

By Representative Connolly of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3060) of Mike Connolly for legislation to establish a homelessness prevention and reduction fund to be funded by taxes on gross receipts of business entities. Revenue.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill establishes business tax to fund homelessness prevention, directly advancing fiscal management for essential services through new revenue allocation.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingEstablishes homelessness prevention fund via business taxes, directly advancing affordable housing and homelessness reduction efforts95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Sep 4, 2025

H 1369: An Act to strengthen supportive housing and reduce healthcare costs for low-income seniors

By Representative Gregoire of Marlborough, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1369) of Danielle W. Gregoire relative to supportive housing and healthcare costs for low-income seniors. Health Care Financing.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly aims to reduce healthcare costs for low-income seniors via supportive housing, directly improving access and affordability per healthcare topic indicators.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly strengthens supportive housing for low-income seniors, advancing affordable housing access through legislative action.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 8, 2025

S 961: An Act providing upstream homelessness prevention assistance to families, youth, and adults

By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 961) of Brendan P. Crighton and John F. Keenan for legislation to provide upstream homelessness prevention assistance to families, youth, and adults. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill prevents homelessness through upstream assistance, directly advancing housing stability and affordability for vulnerable groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Tenant Rights

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 978: An Act relative to the HomeBase Program

By Mr. Durant, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 978) of Peter J. Durant, John R. Gaskey, Joseph D. McKenna, Donald R. Berthiaume, Jr. and others for legislation to define eligibility requirements for the HomeBase Program. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingDefines eligibility for HomeBase housing program, clarifying access to housing assistance85% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

Track