SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1357        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 475

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Patricia D. Jehlen

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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 promoting housing stability for older adults across the commonwealth.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1357        FILED ON: 1/16/2025

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 475

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 promoting housing stability for older adults across the commonwealth.

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. Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following section:-   

Section XX. 

(A) The secretary of the executive office of housing and livable communities shall convene a steering committee relative to the expansion of a pilot program originally created in Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024, in item 7004-9005 to establish a short-term housing bridge pilot program to facilitate interim housing stability for individuals applying for more affordable permanent housing situations. Eligibility for the expanded pilot program shall include households with individuals: (i) age 60 or older residing in the commonwealth, who are otherwise eligible for housing under item 7004-9005 or item 7004-9024; (ii) with incomes of not more than 80 per cent of the area median income; and (iii) at risk of eviction due to their inability to consistently pay rent; provided further, that households participating in the pilot program shall not, while receiving such assistance, be required to pay more than 30 per cent of their monthly adjusted income for rent, mortgage, or other housing financial obligations. The steering committee shall be chaired by the secretary or a designee, and shall include the following: a representative of the executive office of aging and independence, a representative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, a representative of each of the participating Aging Services Access Points, a representative of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, 3 older adults who have experienced housing instability or homelessness who shall be appointed by Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on elder affairs; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on housing, 1 additional member of the senate to be named by the president of the senate; 1 additional member of the house of representatives to be named by the speaker of the house of representatives, and other members as deemed appropriate by the secretary. The committee shall manage and direct the participating agencies toward establishing and expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program to facilitate interim housing stability for households with individuals aged 60 or older residing in the pilot program’s designated service areas. The committee shall file annual reports by December 31 with the governor, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on elder affairs, and the joint committee on housing. Such reports shall be posted simultaneously on the executive office’s website. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the committee’s recommendations on implementing the program statewide.    

(B) Subject to appropriation or third-party reimbursement, the executive office shall enter into performance-based contracts with designated older adult serving agencies to establish and expand a short-term housing bridge subsidy program for adults aged 60 or older who are experiencing housing instability or homelessness in urban, suburban and rural areas of the commonwealth, informed by the recommendations of the steering committee established in subsection (A).