Bill H.3778

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3160 FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 3778

By Ms. Meschino of Hull, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3778) of Joan Meschino for an investigation by a special commission (including members of the General Court) relative to ending family, child, and individual homelessness. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act establishing a special commission to end family, child, and individual homelessness.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The General Court hereby finds and declares that:

(1) there is a crisis of family, child and individual homelessness in Massachusetts;

(2) there is a great need to understand the scope, magnitude, costs and impact of family and individual homelessness, particularly the educational and health impacts on homeless children;

(3) there are many root causes of family and individual homelessness, including, but not limited to, poverty, domestic violence, community violence, substance use disorders and mental health issues;

(4) although the commonwealth currently provides for emergency housing assistance programs for families and provides many resources available to homeless families while in shelter, these resources are neither designed, nor enough to end this statewide crisis;

(5) although the commonwealth oversees the funds for individual shelters through the department of housing and community development and provides many of the resources available to individuals while in shelter, these resources are neither designed, nor enough to end this statewide crisis;

(6) it is paramount that the commonwealth ascertains the costs incurred by insufficient and uncoordinated resources available for homeless families and individuals; and

(7) family and individual homelessness is solvable and preventable with a concrete, actionable plan that coordinates all necessary resources to end family homelessness in the commonwealth.

SECTION 2. (a) There shall be established a special commission on family, child and individual homelessness pursuant to section 2A of chapter 4 of the General Laws to develop an actionable and measurable plan to end family, child and individual homelessness in the commonwealth. The commission shall: (1) identify the current gaps in resources and the necessary steps to fill those gaps; (2) discern the impact of the lack of stable housing for homeless and housing insecure children; (3) conduct a cost analysis of family, children and individual homelessness currently and a cost analysis of providing the necessary resources to end homelessness; and (4) generate a thorough plan that would unite local, state and federal resources into a coordinated effort that will lead to the end of homelessness. The commission shall utilize an equity framework prioritizing protected characteristics, including, but not limited to, gender, race, and disability, and a trauma informed care approach in satisfying these objectives.

(b) The commission shall consist of the following 31 members: the governor or a designee from the governor’s staff, who shall serve as chair; the chief justice of the housing court or their designee; the chief justice of the juvenile court or their designee; the secretary of the executive office of health and human services or their designee; the undersecretary of the department of housing and community development or their designee; the commissioner of the department of elementary and secondary education or their designee; the commissioner of the department of mental health or their designee; the commissioner of the department of developmental services or their designee; the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance or their designee; the commissioner of the department of children and families or their designee; the commission of the department of early education and care or their designee; the secretary of elder affairs or their designee; the commissioner of the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission or their designee; the commissioner of the department of public health or their designee; 3 members appointed by the Massachusetts Municipal Association, one representing an urban, one representing a suburban, and one representing a rural municipality; 2 members of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house; 2 members of the senate to be appointed by the senate president; and 10 members to be appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be individuals that have prior lived experience with family homelessness or housing insecurity, 2 of whom shall be individuals that have prior lived experience with individual homelessness or housing insecurity, 1 of whom shall be the chief executive officer of an organization that advocates for family homelessness, 1 of whom shall be the chief executive officer of an organization that advocates for individual homelessness, 1 of whom shall be the chief executive officer of an organization that advocates for child homelessness, 1 of whom shall be the director or an organization that provides shelter for families experiencing homelessness, 1 of whom shall be the director or an organization that provides shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness and 1 of whom shall be the director or an organization that provides shelter for children experiencing homelessness.

(c) The commission shall consult, as necessary, with officials from the Massachusetts rehabilitation commission, the department of corrections, the department of probation and the department of youth services.

(d) The commission may elect to form subcommittees on various specific issues within the scope of the commission. Any subcommittees formed by the commission shall meet not less than monthly.

(e) (i) The commission shall meet not less than monthly for the first year following the passage of this act.

(ii) The commission may hold additional meetings to address specific issues as they relate to the work of the commission.

(iii) The committee shall file bi-annual progress reports with the governor and the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate.

(iv) The commission shall, not later than 1 year after the passage of this act, file its first report, together with any recommendations and drafts of recommended legislation, with the governor and clerks of the house of representatives and the senate.

(v) Not later than 5 years after the passage of this act, the commission shall file a comprehensive, actionable plan to end homelessness in the commonwealth with the governor and clerks of the house of representatives and the senate. The plan shall incorporate, as appropriate, components various housing and support models such as housing first, permanent supportive housing, wrap around services and the convention of the rights of the child.

Name:	District/Address:	Date Added:
Joan Meschino	3rd Plymouth	2/18/2021