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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 359 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4015
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Shirley B. Arriaga
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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:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Shirley B. Arriaga8th Hampden1/8/2025Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex3/13/2025Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex3/20/2025Susannah M. Whipps2nd Franklin4/1/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 359 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4015
By Representative Arriaga of Chicopee, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4015) of
Shirley B. Arriaga and others relative to expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program.
Housing.
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:
1 SECTION 1. The secretary of housing and livable communities shall convene a steering
2committee relative to expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program, established in item
37004-0107 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024, to facilitate interim housing stability
4for individuals statewide applying for more affordable permanent housing situations. Eligibility
5for the expanded pilot program shall include households with individuals who: (i) are 60 years of
6age or older; (ii) reside in the commonwealth; (iii) are otherwise eligible for housing under items
77004-0107, 7004-9005 or 7004-9024 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024; (iv) have
8incomes of not more than 80 per cent of the area median income; and (v) are at risk of eviction
9due to their inability to consistently pay rent; provided, that households participating in the pilot
10program shall not, while receiving such assistance, be required to pay more than 30 per cent of
11their monthly adjusted income for rent, mortgage or other housing financial obligations. The
12steering committee shall consist of the following members: the secretary of housing and livable
13communities, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; a representative of the executive office of 2 of 2
14aging and independence; a representative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.;
15a representative of each of the participating aging services access points, established pursuant to
16section 4B of chapter 19A of the General Laws; a representative of the Home Care Alliance of
17Massachusetts, Inc.; 3 older adults who have experienced housing instability or homelessness, to
18be nominated by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.; the house and senate chairs
19of the joint committee on elder affairs; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on
20housing; 1 additional member of the senate to be appointed by the president of the senate; 1
21additional member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house;
22and other members as deemed appropriate by the secretary. The committee shall coordinate and
23advise the agencies toward establishing and expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program
24to facilitate interim housing stability for households with individuals 60 years of age or older
25residing in the pilot program’s designated service areas. Annually, not later than December 31,
26the committee shall file a report with the governor, the house and senate committees on ways and
27means, the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on housing. The report shall
28be posted simultaneously on the website of the executive office of housing and livable
29communities. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the committee’s recommendations
30on implementing the program statewide.
31 SECTION 2. Subject to appropriation or third-party reimbursement, the executive office
32of housing and livable communities shall enter into performance-based contracts with designated
33older adult serving agencies to establish and expand a short-term housing bridge subsidy
34program for adults 60 years of age or older who are experiencing housing instability or
35homelessness in urban, suburban and rural areas of the commonwealth, informed by the
36recommendations of the steering committee established in section 1.