June 4, 2024
Dear Kelly,
The Affordable Homes Act, a historic housing bond bill, is making its way through the Massachusetts Legislature.
Yesterday morning, the House Committee on Ways and Means released its version of the housing bond bill, House Bill 4707. It contains $6.2 billion in proposed housing-centered bond authorizations and tax credits for the next five years, $2.1 billion more than Governor Healey's proposal, House Bill 4138.
State Representatives had until yesterday at 5 p.m. to file amendments to strengthen the housing bond bill. Tomorrow, House members will gather in a formal legislative session to debate the 371 amendments to the Affordable Homes Act.
Please join us today and tomorrow morning by calling or emailing your Representative to cosponsor and/or actively support key amendments related to top Coalition priorities, such as:
- Launching a bridge subsidy program for older adults experiencing housing instability: Amendment #37, "Prevent Older Adults from Experiencing Homelessness"
- Restoring upstream access to the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) homelessness prevention program: Amendment #111, "Stabilizing Tenants and Small Property Owners - RAFT Eligibility"
- Expanding access to Mass IDs for youth and adults experiencing homelessness: Amendment #335, "State Identification Cards"
- Increasing funding for housing and wraparound services for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness: Amendment #345, "Housing and Wraparound Support Services for Youth and Young Adults Facing Homelessness"
- Codifying and improving the HomeBASE program: Amendment #54, Strengthening the HomeBASE Program
- Establishing a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness: Amendment #21, "Homeless Bill of Rights"
- Ensuring the fair implementation of the new Emergency Assistance family shelter time limits: Amendment #369, "EA Time Limit"
Please see below for more details. You can join us tomorrow at the State House for the debate or follow along online: livestream link
Thank you for your advocacy!
In solidarity,
Kelly and Julia
Kelly Turley
Associate Director
kelly@mahomeless.org
Julia Garvey
Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate
julia.garvey@mahomeless.org
P.S. Stay up to date with the Coalition’s advocacy initiatives by following us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and X/Twitter. (Links also included at the top of this message.)
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