Bill adds fiscal guardrails and continues support for families in crisis
(BOSTON–2/26/2025) Today, the Legislature passed a $425 million supplemental budget to support emergency housing assistance for unhoused families across the Commonwealth. Senator Cindy F. Friedman (D-Arlington) voted in favor of the measure in the Senate.
The bill adds cost controls and reporting mechanisms to ensure the state responsibly uses taxpayer dollars, and that the program is financially sustainable over the long term. At the same time, it continues to support the mothers, fathers, and children who use the system, who are in a moment of crisis.
“Our emergency assistance shelter program has been in trouble for many years, not as a result of, but exacerbated by, migrant families in need of shelter,” said Senator Friedman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Steering and Policy. “This legislation begins to implement the reforms needed to make the program more efficient, while also addressing what I believe are fundamentally moral obligations to those in need of shelter. As we continue to navigate this challenging situation, I want to thank the outstanding Resettlement Agencies that support the state in this work to put residents on a path towards housing stability.”
The bill allows families to stay for up to six months in shelter and grants the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities the authority to grant hardship exemption waivers to families with young children, to families at risk of domestic violence, or other individuals in vulnerable circumstances, to lengthen their stay in shelters. … Read more.