|
December 13, 2023
Hello!
It's almost time for our November/December Housing and Benefits Committee meeting, coming up this Friday, December 15th, 10:00–11:30 a.m. on Zoom. Please RSVP and plan to join us!
Here is our agenda:
-
Updates on MassHealth's Waiver Request to the Federal Government to Use Funding for Emergency Shelter Costs – Presented by Kate Symmonds, Health Law Attorney, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute & Andrea Park, Director of Community Driven Advocacy, Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
-
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI) provides statewide advocacy and leadership in advancing laws, policies, and practices that secure economic, racial, and social justice for low-income people and communities.
- The 1115 MassHealth Demonstration ("Waiver") Amendment requests to provide temporary housing assistance and supportive services for families and pregnant individuals, including newly arrived immigrants, who are enrolled MassHealth members and who are eligible for Massachusetts’ Emergency Assistance family shelter program.
-
The Executive Office of Heath and Human Services (EOHHS) accepted public comments on the request until November 29, 2023. To read the public comments, click here.
- Updates on the Recent Supplemental Budget (House Bill 4204) and Next Steps on Protecting the Right to Shelter – Presented by the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
-
House Bill 4204, An Act making appropriations for the fiscal year 2023 for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects.
- On December 4, 2023, Governor Healey signed a $3.1 billion budget bill into law that includes $250 million to address family homelessness issues as well as language to require the Administration to create at least one overflow shelter site for families who have been placed on the waiting list for longer-term shelter placements.
- Here is the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless landing page for right to shelter and supplemental budget updates.
- Check out some of the related news coverage in this Google Folder.
- Announcements and Invitations
- Save the date for the Coalition's 2024 Legislative Action Day: Thursday, March 7th, starting at 10 a.m. at the Massachusetts State House. Learn more here: https://tinyurl.com/lad24info
Click here to RSVP for our December 15th meeting (or go to tinyurl.com/mch-hb-rsvp.)
Best wishes,
Julia and Kelly
Julia Garvey
Community Organizer/Legislative Advocate
Pronouns: She/her/hers
julia.garvey@mahomeless.org
Kelly Turley
Associate Director
Pronouns: She/her/hers
kelly@mahomeless.org
| 
