Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts House Bill H4015 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 359 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
3	3	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4015
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	Shirley B. Arriaga
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act promoting housing stability for older adults across the Commonwealth.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	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
16	16	HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 359 FILED ON: 1/8/2025
17	17	HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 4015
18	18	By Representative Arriaga of Chicopee, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4015) of
19	19	Shirley B. Arriaga and others relative to expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program.
20	20	Housing.
21	21	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
22	22	_______________
23	23	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
24	24	(2025-2026)
25	25	_______________
26	26	An Act promoting housing stability for older adults across the Commonwealth.
27	27	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
28	28	of the same, as follows:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. The secretary of housing and livable communities shall convene a steering
30	30	2committee relative to expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program, established in item
31	31	37004-0107 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024, to facilitate interim housing stability
32	32	4for individuals statewide applying for more affordable permanent housing situations. Eligibility
33	33	5for the expanded pilot program shall include households with individuals who: (i) are 60 years of
34	34	6age or older; (ii) reside in the commonwealth; (iii) are otherwise eligible for housing under items
35	35	77004-0107, 7004-9005 or 7004-9024 of section 2 of chapter 140 of the acts of 2024; (iv) have
36	36	8incomes of not more than 80 per cent of the area median income; and (v) are at risk of eviction
37	37	9due to their inability to consistently pay rent; provided, that households participating in the pilot
38	38	10program shall not, while receiving such assistance, be required to pay more than 30 per cent of
39	39	11their monthly adjusted income for rent, mortgage or other housing financial obligations. The
40	40	12steering committee shall consist of the following members: the secretary of housing and livable
41	41	13communities, or a designee, who shall serve as chair; a representative of the executive office of 2 of 2
42	42	14aging and independence; a representative of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.;
43	43	15a representative of each of the participating aging services access points, established pursuant to
44	44	16section 4B of chapter 19A of the General Laws; a representative of the Home Care Alliance of
45	45	17Massachusetts, Inc.; 3 older adults who have experienced housing instability or homelessness, to
46	46	18be nominated by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.; the house and senate chairs
47	47	19of the joint committee on elder affairs; the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on
48	48	20housing; 1 additional member of the senate to be appointed by the president of the senate; 1
49	49	21additional member of the house of representatives to be appointed by the speaker of the house;
50	50	22and other members as deemed appropriate by the secretary. The committee shall coordinate and
51	51	23advise the agencies toward establishing and expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program
52	52	24to facilitate interim housing stability for households with individuals 60 years of age or older
53	53	25residing in the pilot program’s designated service areas. Annually, not later than December 31,
54	54	26the committee shall file a report with the governor, the house and senate committees on ways and
55	55	27means, the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on housing. The report shall
56	56	28be posted simultaneously on the website of the executive office of housing and livable
57	57	29communities. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the committee’s recommendations
58	58	30on implementing the program statewide.
59	59	31 SECTION 2. Subject to appropriation or third-party reimbursement, the executive office
60	60	32of housing and livable communities shall enter into performance-based contracts with designated
61	61	33older adult serving agencies to establish and expand a short-term housing bridge subsidy
62	62	34program for adults 60 years of age or older who are experiencing housing instability or
63	63	35homelessness in urban, suburban and rural areas of the commonwealth, informed by the
64	64	36recommendations of the steering committee established in section 1.