(a) As used in this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:-

 “Congregate shelter”, a shelter for unhoused persons in which multiple individuals share common shared sleeping areas without private living quarters. 

 “Continuum of care”, as defined in Section 578.3 of Title 24 of the Code of Federal Regulations.

 “Non-congregate shelter”, a shelter for unhoused persons in which said persons sleep in  individual or shared bedrooms.

 “Permanent supportive housing”, permanent housing in which supportive services are provided to assist unhoused persons who are experiencing homelessness to live independently.

 (b) The executive office of housing and livable communities, in consultation with the Massachusetts Municipal Association, shall conduct a study to determine: (1)  projected future shelter and housing demand to determine the type and amount of permanent supportive housing, non-congregate and congregate shelter programmatic models necessary to reduce reliance on shelter and meet housing demand; (2) subsequent housing and shelter unit needs per municipality; (3) an inventory of existing congregate and non-congregate shelter beds; and (4) the feasibility and costs associated with converting existing congregate beds to non-congregate housing or permanent supportive housing. 

 (c) The executive office shall submit a report with: (1) a summary of the results of the study conducted pursuant to subsection (b); (2) a plan to build sufficient permanent supportive housing and non-congregate shelter solutions to meet the projected bed needs pursuant to subsection (b), provided that said report shall include a five-year implementation goal to meet the unmet needs of affordable housing capacity for each municipality in the commonwealth based on the results of the study conducted under subsection (b) to ensure adequate permanent supportive housing capacity statewide; and (3) necessary resources to better support unaccompanied adult persons experiencing homelessness, including, but not limited to, long-term vouchers, shallow subsidy pools, rapid re-housing resources, permanent supportive housing, alternative construction models such as modular construction, micro-units, and repurposed hotels,; provided that resources must be assessed specifically for unhoused persons with complex needs, including but not limited to, elderly, disabled, medically complex, or LGBTQ+ persons experiencing homelessness. 

 (e) The executive office shall submit the report pursuant to subsection (c) no later than December 31, 2026, to the house and senate clerks, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on housing.