While Republicans in DC are creating havoc and letting white supremacist Big Tech billionaires like Elon Musk dismantle the federal government, what are Democrats in Massachusetts doing? Are they taking steps to protect MA from the barrage of cruelty coming from DC? Are they charting a vision for what progressive governance looks like?
No, they are voting today to kick unhoused families out on the streets.
For over 40 years, the Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter program has provided shelter and services to eligible Massachusetts children and families experiencing homelessness. This program represents a commitment to protect children and families in the greatest need. Since November 2023, new policies from the Governor and Legislature have chipped away at access to shelter.
The House is planning to chip away even more by reducing the length of stay even further, excluding many immigrant families, and increasing the administrative burden to gain access to emergency shelter.
Let’s be clear: if Beacon Hill wants to control the costs of emergency shelter, they should listen to providers and advocates, not the comment section of the Boston Herald.
Here’s what you can do:
1. If you have time to make a phone call to your state rep, phone calls always make the biggest difference. Find your state rep’s phone number here.
2. If you don’t have time for a call, emails are still very important! Use our template here.
Here’s what your legislator should hear from you:
- The emergency shelter system needs more money. MA is a rich state; “we don’t have the money” is never a valid excuse.
- But new money should not come with harmful restrictions to access that kick families out on the street.
- Support critical amendments to the supplemental budget to protect families facing homelessness.
The following amendments are supported by Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless:
- Amendment 38, Rep. Uyterhoeven: removes the proposed 6-month length of stay limit, and removes the proposed cap of 4,000 families in EA shelter
- Amendment 32, Rep. Uyterhoeven: protects presumptive eligibility for EA shelter
- Amendment 29, Rep. Decker & Amendment 37, Rep. Connolly: removes the proposed cap of 4,000 families in EA shelter
- Amendment 23, Rep. Barber: increases the HomeBASE award to $50,000 over 24 months, from $30,000 over 24 months
- Amendment 27, Rep. Decker: requires waiver to the length of stay limit for households who have a child under age 13
- Amendment 5, Rep. LeBeouf: requires waivers to the length of stay limit for families who have a household member with a documented disability
- Amendment 28, Rep. Decker: allow EA families to increase income without losing eligibility for EA shelter
