In Commonwealth Magazine COVID-19 HAS LAID bare the inadequacy of a safety net system here in Massachusetts, from workforce shortages to the lack of a viable public health response for adults, youth, and families experiencing homelessness on a day-to-day basis. The pandemic has pushed our statewide response system to the limit — further straining the state’s critical services and supports that keep low-income households stable. Many people are stretched thin and need help. Now is the time for the Massachusetts Legislature to take coordinated, comprehensive action to ensure that these resources are deployed effectively and equitably. By transforming our approach to homelessness, we can move from a crisis response to investing in vulnerable adults, families, and youth for more stable lives. And that’s exactly what House Bill 3838 does. An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts flexible housing subsidy pool program to address the medically complex needs of . . . Read More

Press Release by United Way (BOSTON) – United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA), Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA), Pine Street Inn, Father Bill’s & MainSpring, and Heading Home today announce their support of the Baker-Polito Administration’s proposed new “One Door” pilot program to provide permanent supportive housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The organizations praise Governor Baker’s proposal to pilot a new approach that would streamline the funding of permanent supportive housing and enable individuals, families, youth and young adults experiencing homelessness to access safe, stable housing and services more quickly and seamlessly. On Thursday, May 19, Governor Baker filed a $1.7 billion supplemental Fiscal Year 2022 budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which included $10 million in funding towards permanent supportive housing operating and service costs for individuals, youth and young adults, and families experiencing homelessness. Research . . . Read More

(BOSTON) - On Tuesday, April 12, Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) hosted the Chairs of the Joint Committee on Housing, fellow legislators, and Housing Authorities in Cohasset for a meeting to discuss experiences with the Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs (CHAMP).  The discussion was attended by Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, State Senator John Keenan (D-Quincy), House Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing, State Representative James Arciero (D-Westford), State Senator Patrick O’Connor (R-Weymouth), State Representative David DeCoste (R-Norwell), and staff from State Representative James Murphy (D-Weymouth), State Representative Kathy LaNatra (D-Kingston), and State Representative Patrick Kearney (D-Scituate)’s offices. Housing Authorities in attendance represented much of the South Shore. In 2014, An Act Relative to Local Housing Authorities, which contained a section creating a centralized waiting list for public housing applications, was passed by the Massachusetts state legislature. The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) . . . Read More

Press Release by United Way (BOSTON) – State Representative Joan Meschino, United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley and Heading Home today announce that the Joint Committee on Housing has reported out favorably legislation that would create a flexible funding stream to support trauma-informed service delivery, regional coordination efforts, and integrated services for individuals, youth and families experiencing homelessness. The legislation, introduced by State Representative Joan Meschino this session, would align existing resources to create a Massachusetts Flexible Housing Pool (MFHP), a nimble pot of public and private funds to help meet the complex housing and health needs of individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. The goal of this bill is to expand supportive housing and services for adults, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, and enable funds to get out quickly and equitably to those that need it most. “This legislation re-envisions our approach to addressing homelessness in the Commonwealth,” . . . Read More

Press Release by United Way (BOSTON) – A broad coalition of 70 housing advocates and providers, healthcare institutions, and nonprofit and philanthropic leaders today urged the Joint Committee on Housing to favorably report out new legislation sponsored by State Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull) that would transform the Commonwealth’s homeless response system and advance long-term housing solutions throughout Massachusetts. House Bill 3838 – An Act to create and implement a Massachusetts Flexible Housing Subsidy Pool Program to address the medically complex needs of disabled men, women, and children experiencing homelessness – would create a new Massachusetts Flexible Housing Pool (MFHP) – a nimble pot of public and private resources to help meet the complex housing and health needs of individuals, youth, and families experiencing homelessness. The goal of this bill is to expand supportive housing and services for adults, youth, and families experiencing homelessness, and enable funds to get out . . . Read More