Budget Amendment ID: FY2017-S4-856

ECO 856

Massachusetts Veteran Homelessness Commission

Messrs. O'Connor, Tarr, Fattman and Ross moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section ___, the following new section:-

“SECTION__. Notwithstanding any special or general law there shall be a special commission on Veteran homelessness to determine the feasibility of securing permanent housing and long-term stability for Massachusetts veterans, with the goal to effectively reduce the population of sheltered and unsheltered Veterans in Massachusetts to zero. The focus of the commission’s work shall include, but not be limited to, the study of existing homelessness alleviation models in other states and jurisdictions that have proved successful; assessment of the impact of streamlining all relevant federal, state, local, private, and non-profit organization options toward achieving said goal; estimation of targeted population quantity, geography, demographic, and specific needs; make recommendations to reduce identified barriers to serving this population; estimate the cost of reaching a net-zero homeless veterans goal.

The commission shall include, the secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, regional administrator of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Urban Development, the secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans Services, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, President of the New England Center and Home for Veterans, Director of the VA Boston Healthcare System, the Undersecretary of the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development, 2 members of the senate, appointed by the senate president, 2 members of the

house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house, 3 veterans who have experienced homelessness, appointed by the president of the New England Center and Home for Veterans, and a representative from each of the following organizations: the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, Veterans Northeast Outreach Center, the Disabled American Veterans Department of Massachusetts, and the Chelsea and Holyoke Soldiers’ Homes.

The commission shall submit a report to the Governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of the senate, the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, the joint committee on housing, and the department of veterans services no later than (?), setting forth the commission’s findings, together with any recommendations for regulatory or legislative action with a timeline for implementation, cost estimates and finance mechanisms. Thereafter, the commission shall submit a report annually by December 1 of each year to the

Governor, the speaker of the house of representative and the president of the senate, the joint committee on veterans and federal affairs, the joint committee on housing, and the department of veterans services, detailing the extent of homelessness among veterans within the commonwealth and the progress made toward implementing the commission’s recommendations along with other efforts to address the needs of this population."