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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2190 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1011
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Liz Miranda
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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 families by strengthening the HomeBASE program.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Liz MirandaSecond Suffolk 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2190 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1011
By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1011) of Liz Miranda for
legislation to promote housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE 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 families by strengthening the HomeBASE program.
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 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after subsection A, paragraph (e) the following:-
3 (f) for re-housing, short-term housing transition program benefits, which shall be
4available initially for 24 months and then in 12-month, renewable allotments, to eligible families.
5 The executive office shall provide further allotments of household assistance from the
6Massachusetts short-term housing transition program to families that received household
7assistance in a prior period to prevent eviction from existing housing or to relocate to another
8housing situation in cases where a.) the family complied with their rehousing plan during the
9prior period of assistance and b.) continues to include a child under the age of 21 or a pregnant
10person.
11 The executive office shall not impose income eligibility restrictions on families once they
12are enrolled in the program. 2 of 2
13 The executive office shall not require families to be evicted from their existing housing or
14to otherwise establish that they fall into one of the four categories of affirmative eligibility for
15emergency assistance shelter currently listed in item 7004-0101.
16 Families in summary process commenced for a reason determined by the executive office
17to be a no fault or excused fault reason for eviction can apply and be found eligible for short-
18term transition program benefits in order to prevent eviction from existing housing or permit the
19family to relocate to another housing situation. The executive office shall allow families to apply
20and be found eligible for this short-term housing benefit after the summons and complaint is
21filed in court. Families shall be found eligible for short-term housing transition benefits if, but
22for feasible alternative housing, they otherwise meet the eligibility requirements for family
23shelter.
24 The executive office shall provide household assistance in an amount up to $50,000 in
25the first 24-month period, or a higher cap as established in line item 7004-0108, and up to
26$25,000, or higher cap as established in line item 7004-0108, in subsequent 12-month periods to
27eligible families.
28 The executive office shall allow families to combine and maximize benefits under the
29Massachusetts short-term housing transition program and residential assistance for families in
30transition funds from line item 7004-9316 if families are eligible for both programs, such funds
31are needed to promote housing stability, and the assistance is non-duplicative.