HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3493        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Michelle M. DuBois

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to end child homelessness.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3493        FILED ON: 1/17/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No.         

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 154 OF 2023-2024.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act to end child homelessness.

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

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, no family with children under the age of eighteen shall be evicted or removed from public housing, publicly subsidized housing, or a shelter funded in whole or in part with public funds, including a motel or hotel providing emergency shelter, unless and until the Housing Services Unit of the Department of Children and Families, in consultation with the Department of Housing and Community Development, has developed and is able to implement a plan to assure that all children under eighteen in the affected family will be housed in some location which is fit for human habitation. All reasonable efforts shall be made to provide that such children remain in the custody of their parents or other caregivers with whom they have been residing.