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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1357 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 475
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patricia D. Jehlen
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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 :Patricia D. JehlenSecond MiddlesexSal N. DiDomenicoMiddlesex and Suffolk 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1357 FILED ON: 1/16/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 475
By Ms. Jehlen, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 475) of Patricia D. Jehlen and Sal N.
DiDomenico for legislation to promote housing stability for older adults across the
commonwealth. Elder Affairs.
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. Chapter 23B of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting at the end
2thereof the following section:-
3 Section XX.
4 (A) The secretary of the executive office of housing and livable communities shall
5convene a steering committee relative to the expansion of a pilot program originally created in
6Chapter 140 of the Acts of 2024, in item 7004-9005 to establish a short-term housing bridge pilot
7program to facilitate interim housing stability for individuals applying for more affordable
8permanent housing situations. Eligibility for the expanded pilot program shall include
9households with individuals: (i) age 60 or older residing in the commonwealth, who are
10otherwise eligible for housing under item 7004-9005 or item 7004-9024; (ii) with incomes of not
11more than 80 per cent of the area median income; and (iii) at risk of eviction due to their inability
12to consistently pay rent; provided further, that households participating in the pilot program shall 2 of 3
13not, while receiving such assistance, be required to pay more than 30 per cent of their monthly
14adjusted income for rent, mortgage, or other housing financial obligations. The steering
15committee shall be chaired by the secretary or a designee, and shall include the following: a
16representative of the executive office of aging and independence, a representative of the
17Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, a representative of each of the participating Aging
18Services Access Points, a representative of the Home Care Alliance of Massachusetts, 3 older
19adults who have experienced housing instability or homelessness who shall be appointed by
20Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on
21elder affairs; the senate and house chairs of the joint committee on housing, 1 additional member
22of the senate to be named by the president of the senate; 1 additional member of the house of
23representatives to be named by the speaker of the house of representatives, and other members as
24deemed appropriate by the secretary. The committee shall manage and direct the participating
25agencies toward establishing and expanding a short-term housing bridge pilot program to
26facilitate interim housing stability for households with individuals aged 60 or older residing in
27the pilot program’s designated service areas. The committee shall file annual reports by
28December 31 with the governor, the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint
29committee on elder affairs, and the joint committee on housing. Such reports shall be posted
30simultaneously on the executive office’s website. The report shall include, but not be limited to,
31the committee’s recommendations on implementing the program statewide.
32 (B) Subject to appropriation or third-party reimbursement, the executive office shall enter
33into performance-based contracts with designated older adult serving agencies to establish and
34expand a short-term housing bridge subsidy program for adults aged 60 or older who are
35experiencing housing instability or homelessness in urban, suburban and rural areas of the 3 of 3
36commonwealth, informed by the recommendations of the steering committee established in
37subsection (A).