Amendment ID: S2502-41-R1

Redraft Amendment 41

Emergency Housing Assistance Program Sustainability

Messrs. Velis, Collins and Brady, Ms. Creem and Messrs. Pacheco, Fattman and Moore move that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section 161 the following section:-

“SECTION 161A. (a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be a special commission to study and make recommendations concerning the support of individuals and families in need of shelter and to promote the long-term sufficiency of those seeking shelter and the sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness of response efforts.

(b) The commission shall consist of: the secretary of housing and livable communities or a designee, who shall serve as chair; the secretary of health and human services or a designee; the secretary of administration and finance or a designee, the director of the office for refugees and immigrants or a designee; the commissioner of the department of transitional assistance or a designee; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on housing; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and 5 members appointed by the governor, who shall have expertise in public and affordable housing, issues of homelessness prevention or response, immigration law or advocacy, or emergency management.

(c) The commission shall investigate, evaluate and make recommendations on items, including, but not limited to: (i) examining the financial impact and sustainability of response efforts and the emergency housing assistance program; (ii) investigating the existing reception and placement structure in the commonwealth for families seeking shelter, including immigrants, refugees and homeless individuals and families, including, but not limited to, temporary shelter, pathways to permanent housing, healthcare, education, language lessons and workforce training; (iii) identifying any failures or gaps in resources that exist in the current structure to facilitate the successful integration of immigrants, refugees and homeless individuals and families into the community; (iv) analyzing the emergency housing response impact on providing temporary and permanent housing for homeless individuals and families, including, but not limited to, immigrants, refugees and non-migrant families and individuals; (v) studying the impact on, and supports to, municipalities necessary to provide additional non-housing community supports to meet the basic needs of those in the program, including, but not limited to, access to food, education, medical services, health assessments and legal assistance; (vi) exploring opportunities to maximize the use of federal reimbursement for expenditures from the program; (vii) examining strategies to coordinate with local organizations and resettlement agencies to maximize resources to help integrate immigrants and refugees into the community, including, but not limited to, stable housing opportunities, wraparound services, language lessons, job training programs and pathways to employment and self-sufficiency and state benefits and services for which they are eligible; (viii) analyzing the utilization of community and state resources and programs, including, but not limited to, homebase, RAFT, resettlement agencies, public housing authorities and non-profits to reduce the time families and individuals spend in emergency shelter and to transition them to more stable housing options; and (ix) comparing the emergency housing response to response efforts operating in other jurisdictions.

(d) Not later than March 1, 2024, the commission shall file a report of its findings, including any recommendations, with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on housing, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the executive office of health and human services and the executive office of housing and livable communities.