Housing (Homelessness)

passed · Massachusetts · House Feb 11, 2026

H 215: An Act supporting the development of children experiencing homelessness

By Representative Decker of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 215) of Marjorie C. Decker for legislation to provide services to certain children experiencing homelessness. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingAddresses homelessness through services for children, directly supporting housing stability for vulnerable populations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Property Development

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Nov 20, 2025

HD 5342: An Act relative to reaffirming the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness

By Representative Sabadosa of Northampton, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Lindsay N. Sabadosa relative to the rights of individuals experiencing homelessness. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly addresses homelessness rights, aligning with housing support indicators like protecting vulnerable populations and advancing housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Tenant Rights

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 618: An Act establishing a special commission to study women and homelessness

HD 618 establishes a special commission to study homelessness among women in Massachusetts. The commission, co-chaired by legislative leaders and including state agency heads, will appoint six additional representatives - including homeless shelter advocates, housing experts, health care specialists, researchers, and individuals with lived experience - to conduct a community needs assessment. It will specifically examine homelessness prevention, shelter improvements for women and families, permanent housing access, data collection methods, and health/social service access for homeless women. The commission must submit its findings and recommendations to key legislative committees by July 31, 2023. This bill directly affects women experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts through the study's policy recommendations.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill establishes commission to study women's homelessness, focusing on prevention and shelter improvements - directly addressing housing vulnerability and homelessness, a core housing topic.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2109: An Act banning hostile architecture targeting unhoused individuals

This bill bans the installation of "hostile architecture" (designs meant to prevent unhoused individuals from sitting or lying on public property at street level) on publicly accessible municipal, state agency, and transportation facilities. It specifically prohibits municipalities, state commissioners, and transportation authorities from using such designs on property they control. The bill defines hostile architecture to exclude elements like skateboard deterrents or vehicle barriers. Violators face a $500 daily fine for each day the ban is violated. The law directly affects public property owners and developers working on publicly accessible spaces.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBans hostile architecture targeting unhoused individuals, directly addressing homelessness and protecting public space access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3016: An Act to strengthen supportive housing and reduce healthcare costs for low-income seniors

HD 3016 requires Massachusetts to fund supportive care services for low-income seniors aged 55+ living in qualifying rental housing projects. It mandates the Executive Office of Health and Human Services to pay housing sponsors $2,500 annually per MassHealth enrollee residing in projects with at least 50 units, where MassHealth residents are the majority and cluster contracting with homecare agencies is in place. The law also requires annual reports to the legislature tracking the number of Medicaid recipients in these projects and cost savings from the cluster contracting model. This directly affects qualifying senior housing projects and their residents enrolled in MassHealth.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds supportive care for low-income seniors via MassHealth, reducing costs and expanding access. Directly increases healthcare funding for vulnerable population.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly funds supportive housing for low-income seniors via annual payments to housing sponsors, directly advancing affordable housing access for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Renters

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3599: An Act relative to avoiding senior homelessness and maintaining senior housing stabilization of rents

HD 3599 limits annual rent increases for seniors over 60 in private rental housing when their unit is sold to a new owner. It caps rent hikes at the lesser of the local Consumer Price Index change or 5% for five years, provided the tenant is on a public housing waitlist or agrees to apply. The law applies to most private rental units but excludes owner-occupied buildings with two units or less and units already regulated by public authorities. It requires cities/towns to ensure these stabilized units are available to seniors earning 80% or less of the Area Median Income.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill caps rent hikes for seniors over 60 at 5% or CPI to prevent homelessness and stabilize housing, directly protecting tenant rights and advancing affordable housing for vulnerable seniors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness Homeownership Renters

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 27, 2025

SD 2082: An Act to reform the emergency assistance shelter program

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1017) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to reform the emergency assistance shelter program by limiting the scope to residents of the Commonwealth. Housing.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill reforms emergency shelter program to limit scope to state residents, directly addressing homelessness (a housing issue). Reform implies strengthening program targeting, not restricting assistance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3903: An Act enhancing prioritization for the emergency assistance program

This bill changes eligibility for Massachusetts' emergency housing assistance program by requiring applicants to have lived in the state for at least three months. It exempts veterans, their immediate family, domestic violence victims, and people displaced by fires or natural disasters in Massachusetts from this residency requirement. Applicants must provide documentation like ID, utility bills, or bank statements to prove residency. The rule applies to all applications submitted on or after the bill's effective date.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill enhances emergency housing program eligibility by prioritizing vulnerable groups (veterans, domestic violence victims) and requiring documentation to verify residency, strengthening access to housing assistance.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExempts veterans from residency requirement for emergency housing assistance, directly advancing access to services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Feb 6, 2025

H 51: An Act making appropriations for fiscal year 2025 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects

This bill appropriates $425 million from the General Fund to provide supportive services and safe shelter for unhoused families in Massachusetts, directly affecting families experiencing homelessness. Key provisions require these funds to be used for specific housing-related services outlined in prior legislation and allow transfers to state agencies or workforce programs supporting this population. The bill also makes technical changes to eligibility rules for the emergency housing assistance program, specifying that families with children or pregnant women may remain eligible for up to six consecutive months of aid (removing prior restrictions on weekly terminations). These funds are available through June 2026 and must follow existing laws governing public fund disbursement.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $425M from General Fund to fund housing services for unhoused families, directly increasing public service funding as a core budget action.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingAllocates $425M for supportive housing services and safe shelter for unhoused families, directly addressing homelessness through funding and program support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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introduced · Massachusetts · House Jun 2, 2025

HD 4691: A report of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Executive Office for Housing and Livable Communities (under Section 11 of Chapter 1 of the Acts of 2025) on the plan for phasing out the use of hotels and motels in the Emergency Housing Assistance Program

This bill transmits a report detailing Massachusetts' plan to phase out the use of hotels and motels in the Emergency Housing Assistance (EA) Program by December 2025. The report outlines a five-phase closure schedule (with 32 hotels remaining as of April 2025, targeting full elimination by year-end) and emphasizes moving families into stable housing instead of transferring them between shelters. It prioritizes closing higher-cost or less-accessible hotels, provides families with advance notice and rehousing support, and aligns closures with contract terms. The plan directly affects homeless families currently housed in hotel shelters (approximately 25% of the EA system as of April 2025), aiming to transition them to permanent housing solutions.

Topics ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill phases out temporary hotel/motel use in emergency housing, prioritizing stable housing transitions and reducing shelter transfers per EA Program goals.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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