Coronavirus: Protecting People Experiencing Homelessness and Poverty
Posted March 10, 2020; last updated May 12, 2020
As Massachusetts responds to the novel coronavirus and the resulting respiratory disease known as COVID-19, the Coalition is sharing key resources on the impact of the coronavirus on the community at large, and in particular, people experiencing homelessness and/or deep poverty. We also are advocating with elected officials to promote the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness during this pandemic and beyond, and engaging in conversations with key state organizations and task forces.
Key Updates:
CDC interim guidance for people experiencing homelessness and shelter providers: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidance focused on preventing and addressing coronavirus among people experiencing unsheltered homelessness on March 22, 2020. Previously, the CDC issued interim guidance focused on preventing the spread of the coronavirus in shelters (last updated March 24, 2020.)
Access to shelter: Families with children experiencing homelessness that are seeking to apply for Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter only can apply by phone with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD local offices are closed for in-person applications and visits until further notice. Please use this number to access the DHCD intake line if you are a family seeking shelter: 1-866-584-0653.
More details about the EA program can be found here: Get Help: Families with Children and on this family shelter flyer (PDF) from Greater Boston Legal Services. As noted in the flyer, if you are a family facing barriers to accessing shelter and would like to talk to a Coalition advocate, please feel free to leave a message for us at 781-595-7570 x36, so we can call you back.
Shelters for unaccompanied adults, also funded by DHCD, oversee their own admissions processes, so if you are an unaccompanied adult, you do not need to apply through DHCD in order to access a shelter bed. Instead, please contact the shelter directly. Our lists of shelters for unaccompanied adults can be found here.
We know that many shelters are unable to accommodate new residents due to COVID-19 concerns. Here is an informal list we have been compiling of additional capacity that has been added for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Please note that, at this time, the vast majority of these locations are reserved for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who need to quarantine. We will continue to advocate for increased capacity for families with children, youth, and adults to practice physical and social distancing while experiencing homelessness. (See below for more advocacy details.)
Access to homelessness prevention resources: The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT) provides funding to families and individuals at risk of homelessness to pay for back rent, back utility bills, and other needs. MassHousing has transferred $5 million to DHCD for a COVID-19 RAFT fund. While we are advocating for additional funds for the program (see below), households can apply for current funds through the regional RAFT agencies. More details about which provider serves each city and town and current intake procedures can be found in this summary from the Coalition in English (PDF, updated March 30, 2020) and Spanish (PDF, March 30, 2020) and through the Regional Housing Network of Massachusetts coronavirus website.
Evictions: Legislation to halt evictions and foreclosures statewide during this crisis was signed into law on April 20th! It currently is considered the strongest eviction moratorium in the country, based on analysis by Eviction Lab. The moratorium will last for 120 days (until August 18th), or until 45 days after the state of emergency is lifted, whichever is shorter. See the full text of the new law here.
On April 24th, DHCD issued emergency regulations to implement the new Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium Law. See the new regulations here, as well as access downloadable forms, such as a sample, fillable form for tenants to complete to document their inability to pay rent on time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please note that if you did miss your rent payment, you also can notify your landlord why your rent is late by using the DHCD sample form above or you can send a letter to your landlord that includes your name, address, and COVID-19-related reason for missing rent. If you document that you were unable to pay rent on time due the financial impact of COVID-19 and submit it within 30 days of when your rent payment was due, your landlord will be barred from making a negative credit report about your missed payment and will not be able to charge you a late fee.
Here is a Mass Legal Help handout on what to do if your landlord tries to lock you out or shut off your utilities without a court order (PDF).
Access to cash assistance and food stamps: The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) offices also will be closed to the public until further notice, so families and individuals who are looking to apply for benefits or follow-up on existing benefits should contact DTA by phone or via the DTA Connect app or website. Read more here.
Most state agencies are following the same timeline. You can check to see if a particular state agency is open or closed to the public here.
Access to unemployment assistance: With the sharp uptick in unemployment, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has set up a special web page with COVID-19-specific information on unemployment insurance claims. Please note that while DUA highly encourages applicants to apply online, details about phone applications are available on this page. Here is a link to the DUA form for requesting additional assistance in filing a claim due to a disability, language issue, or special need. As of April 20th, DUA has opened up the application process for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). These benefits target people who are self-employed, independent contractors, workers with limited work history, and others.
Utility shut-off moratorium: Utility companies in Massachusetts cannot turn off electricity, gas, and water service for failure to pay all or part of a bill, and cannot send communications threatening a shut-off during the state of emergency. Read more about actions from the Baker Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to protect households from shut-offs.
Access to health care and resources for immigrants: Please see this flyer (PDF) from Attorney General Maura Healey's office on equal access to health care for undocumented immigrants impacted by COVID-19. Translations of the flyer into Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese are available. As the flyer notes, immigrants who are not eligible for other government programs can access MassHealth Limited to pay for COVID-19 testing and treatment. Accessing COVID-19 testing and treatment or use of MassHealth Limited will not impact public charge determinations or negatively impact green card applications.
This information on immigrant access to national COVID-19 resources has been compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, and National Immigration Law Center.
Access to emergency, drop-in child care slots, including for families in shelter: With the closure of most child care programs, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care has created a list of emergency child care centers that will be making drop-in slots available, with priorities for families living in shelters, families involved with the Department of Children and Families, and families that need care due to working as "health care workers, essential state and human service workers, COVID-19 health workers, grocery store employees, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, transportation and infrastructure workers, sanitation workers." See their list of providers here (PDF, March 23, 2020.)
Take Action with Us! Advocacy Actions and Opportunities:
In the News:
Links:
As Massachusetts responds to the novel coronavirus and the resulting respiratory disease known as COVID-19, the Coalition is sharing key resources on the impact of the coronavirus on the community at large, and in particular, people experiencing homelessness and/or deep poverty. We also are advocating with elected officials to promote the health and safety of people experiencing homelessness during this pandemic and beyond, and engaging in conversations with key state organizations and task forces.
Key Updates:
CDC interim guidance for people experiencing homelessness and shelter providers: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued interim guidance focused on preventing and addressing coronavirus among people experiencing unsheltered homelessness on March 22, 2020. Previously, the CDC issued interim guidance focused on preventing the spread of the coronavirus in shelters (last updated March 24, 2020.)
Access to shelter: Families with children experiencing homelessness that are seeking to apply for Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter only can apply by phone with the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). DHCD local offices are closed for in-person applications and visits until further notice. Please use this number to access the DHCD intake line if you are a family seeking shelter: 1-866-584-0653.
More details about the EA program can be found here: Get Help: Families with Children and on this family shelter flyer (PDF) from Greater Boston Legal Services. As noted in the flyer, if you are a family facing barriers to accessing shelter and would like to talk to a Coalition advocate, please feel free to leave a message for us at 781-595-7570 x36, so we can call you back.
Shelters for unaccompanied adults, also funded by DHCD, oversee their own admissions processes, so if you are an unaccompanied adult, you do not need to apply through DHCD in order to access a shelter bed. Instead, please contact the shelter directly. Our lists of shelters for unaccompanied adults can be found here.
We know that many shelters are unable to accommodate new residents due to COVID-19 concerns. Here is an informal list we have been compiling of additional capacity that has been added for people experiencing homelessness during the pandemic. Please note that, at this time, the vast majority of these locations are reserved for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who need to quarantine. We will continue to advocate for increased capacity for families with children, youth, and adults to practice physical and social distancing while experiencing homelessness. (See below for more advocacy details.)
Access to homelessness prevention resources: The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT) provides funding to families and individuals at risk of homelessness to pay for back rent, back utility bills, and other needs. MassHousing has transferred $5 million to DHCD for a COVID-19 RAFT fund. While we are advocating for additional funds for the program (see below), households can apply for current funds through the regional RAFT agencies. More details about which provider serves each city and town and current intake procedures can be found in this summary from the Coalition in English (PDF, updated March 30, 2020) and Spanish (PDF, March 30, 2020) and through the Regional Housing Network of Massachusetts coronavirus website.
Evictions: Legislation to halt evictions and foreclosures statewide during this crisis was signed into law on April 20th! It currently is considered the strongest eviction moratorium in the country, based on analysis by Eviction Lab. The moratorium will last for 120 days (until August 18th), or until 45 days after the state of emergency is lifted, whichever is shorter. See the full text of the new law here.
On April 24th, DHCD issued emergency regulations to implement the new Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium Law. See the new regulations here, as well as access downloadable forms, such as a sample, fillable form for tenants to complete to document their inability to pay rent on time due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Please note that if you did miss your rent payment, you also can notify your landlord why your rent is late by using the DHCD sample form above or you can send a letter to your landlord that includes your name, address, and COVID-19-related reason for missing rent. If you document that you were unable to pay rent on time due the financial impact of COVID-19 and submit it within 30 days of when your rent payment was due, your landlord will be barred from making a negative credit report about your missed payment and will not be able to charge you a late fee.
Here is a Mass Legal Help handout on what to do if your landlord tries to lock you out or shut off your utilities without a court order (PDF).
Access to cash assistance and food stamps: The Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) offices also will be closed to the public until further notice, so families and individuals who are looking to apply for benefits or follow-up on existing benefits should contact DTA by phone or via the DTA Connect app or website. Read more here.
Most state agencies are following the same timeline. You can check to see if a particular state agency is open or closed to the public here.
Access to unemployment assistance: With the sharp uptick in unemployment, the Massachusetts Department of Unemployment Assistance (DUA) has set up a special web page with COVID-19-specific information on unemployment insurance claims. Please note that while DUA highly encourages applicants to apply online, details about phone applications are available on this page. Here is a link to the DUA form for requesting additional assistance in filing a claim due to a disability, language issue, or special need. As of April 20th, DUA has opened up the application process for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA). These benefits target people who are self-employed, independent contractors, workers with limited work history, and others.
Utility shut-off moratorium: Utility companies in Massachusetts cannot turn off electricity, gas, and water service for failure to pay all or part of a bill, and cannot send communications threatening a shut-off during the state of emergency. Read more about actions from the Baker Administration and the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities to protect households from shut-offs.
Access to health care and resources for immigrants: Please see this flyer (PDF) from Attorney General Maura Healey's office on equal access to health care for undocumented immigrants impacted by COVID-19. Translations of the flyer into Arabic, Cape Verdean Creole, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Vietnamese are available. As the flyer notes, immigrants who are not eligible for other government programs can access MassHealth Limited to pay for COVID-19 testing and treatment. Accessing COVID-19 testing and treatment or use of MassHealth Limited will not impact public charge determinations or negatively impact green card applications.
This information on immigrant access to national COVID-19 resources has been compiled by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, National Housing Law Project, and National Immigration Law Center.
Access to emergency, drop-in child care slots, including for families in shelter: With the closure of most child care programs, the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care has created a list of emergency child care centers that will be making drop-in slots available, with priorities for families living in shelters, families involved with the Department of Children and Families, and families that need care due to working as "health care workers, essential state and human service workers, COVID-19 health workers, grocery store employees, emergency response personnel, law enforcement, transportation and infrastructure workers, sanitation workers." See their list of providers here (PDF, March 23, 2020.)
Take Action with Us! Advocacy Actions and Opportunities:
- Families and individuals experiencing homelessness should not have to choose between shelter and safety. There are many unmet needs for all populations, including glaring gaps in alternative sheltering sites in non-congregate settings. As a next step in the family advocacy efforts, we ask you to join us in asking Governor Baker to take swift action to protect children and families experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic: web page and Facebook event. As background, here are the letters from the Coalition and allied advocates to policymakers highlighting concerns and recommendations specifically on the Emergency Assistance family shelter program (EA):
- Initial letter to DHCD from March 20th (PDF)
- Letter to legislative leadership from March 25th (PDF)
- Letter to Governor Charlie Baker and Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito from April 8th (PDF)
- Response from DHCD, received April 15th (PDF)
- Initial letter to DHCD from March 20th (PDF)
- Low-income renters and homeowners across the state will need an unprecedented infusion of funds to be able to maintain their housing. We are working to secure $50 million in additional funds for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT) to help low-income households pay for back rent, back mortgage payments, back utility bills, and other needs that will emerge related to the coronavirus. Read our full list of RAFT recommendations and requests, and then ask your State Representative and Senator to do all they can to expand RAFT resources and access. Sign and share our one-minute online RAFT action. While we keep pushing for even greater resources, we are pleased the Governor announced a new investment of $5 million in RAFT funds from MassHousing on March 25th.
- Renters and low-income homeowners across Massachusetts should not have to worry about being evicted during the COVID-19 state of emergency. Thank you for all of your work to support House Bill 4624, An Act providing for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 emergency, which was filed by Representative Mike Connolly of Cambridge and Representative Kevin Honan of Allston. The final legislative version of the bill, House Bill 4647, was sent to Governor Baker by the Legislature on April 17th, and was signed into law on April 20th. Read more here from State House News Service and WBUR.
- Many families and individuals who participate in the state's cash assistance programs already live below the deep poverty line (50% of the federal poverty guidelines.) In the current pandemic, participants in the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) and Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC) programs will need infusions of resources, including increased cash assistance. Please ask your legislators to actively support House Bill 4622, An Act to provide short-term relief for families in deep poverty, filed by Representative Marjorie Decker of Cambridge and Senator Sal DiDomenico of Everett. Under the bill, $23 million would be allocated to provide a one-time payment to each participant household, equal to the standard of need set out by the Department of Transitional Assistance. The Coalition participated in the state's first-ever virtual bill hearing on April 13th to testify in support of the bill, and submitted written testimony to the Joint Committee on Children, Families, and Persons with Disabilities. The Committee reported the bill out favorably on April 16th, and the bill is awaiting its next committee assignment.
- Please also ask your State Representative and Senator to support House Docket 4950, An Act providing emergency access to equity and justice for all in response to COVID-19, and House Docket 4952, An Act establishing emergency funding for homeless services.
- In addition, as part of the Emergency Task Force on Coronavirus and Equity, convened by the Massachusetts Public Health Association, we are calling for urgent action from Governor Charlie Baker, Attorney General Maura Healey, and the Legislature to:
- Ensure immigrants have safe access to testing and treatment
- Ensure everyone has access to safe quarantine
- Pass emergency paid sick time
- Enact a moratorium on evictions, foreclosures, and terminations of public benefits
In the News:
- Boston homeless advocates say asymptomatic virus spread shows 'urgent' need for universal testing - WBUR, April 15, 2020
- One in three among Boston homeless have tested positive for coronavirus, city officials say - WGBH, April 7, 2020, with remarks from the Coalition
- Boston's homeless population experiencing 'significant surge' in coronavirus cases - WBUR, April 6, 2020
- Homeless facing ‘a disaster for families’ - Boston Globe, April 3, 2020, with remarks from the Coalition
- Editorial: A measure to stop evictions starts moving on Beacon Hill - Boston Globe, April 2, 2020
- Coronavirus Town Hall with State Representative Marjorie Decker - Cambridge Community Television video, April 1, 2020, with remarks from the Coalition
- Coronavirus response: Some Massachusetts communities calling households asking residents to fill out census online - MassLive, April 1, 2020, with remarks from the Coalition
- Advocates push to make social distancing possible in homeless shelters - Boston University Daily Free Press, March 26, 2020, with quotes from the Coalition
- "In It Together" show focused on homelessness issues - WGBH Radio, March 25, 2020, including an interview with the Coalition
- Massachusetts housing boom about to encounter turbulence - State House News and Daily Hampshire Gazette, March 25, 2020, with details about new RAFT funds, the suspension of voucher terminations, and other housing efforts
- State Legislature working on bills to create housing 'safety net', halt evictions and foreclosures - WBUR, March 23, 2020
- Slowing the spread of COVID-19 the right way - Commonwealth Magazine, March 21, 2020
- Massachusetts is unprepared should coronavirus hit the homeless, shelter operators say - WGBH, March 20, 2020, with quotes from the Coalition
- Cambridge homeless shelters fight to stay open amid coronavirus crisis - Harvard Crimson, March 20, 2020, with quotes from the Coalition
- Massachusetts task force outlines immediate needs to fight virus - State House News and the Herald News, March 20, 2020
- Coronavirus could overwhelm U.S. without urgent action, estimates say - New York Times, March 20, 2020, with interactive county-by-county map
- Advocates: Virus fight must account for needs of homeless - State House News, March 18, 2020, with quotes from the Coalition
- 'The calm before the storm': Coronavirus testing and precautions for Massachusetts homeless population ramp up - WBUR, March 20, 2020
- Massachusetts lawmakers, officials are calling for a pause on evictions amid COVID-19 - Boston.com, March 13, 2020
- Governor Baker's declaration of a state of emergency - Boston Globe, March 10, 2020
Links:
- *Support the ongoing work of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless during this pandemic and beyond*
- United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) official web page on COVID-19
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health's (DPH) page on COVID-19
- World Health Organization (WHO) official page on COVID-19
- CDC posters on steps to take to stop the spread of COVID-19 and germs: English (PDF) and Spanish (PDF)
- CDC web page: Share facts about COVID-19
- Mass.gov page on statewide preparations and responses to COVID-19
- CDC guidance to providers working with people experiencing homelessness (PDF)
- United States Department of Housing and Urban Development HUD Exchange resources and links on COVID-19 and infectious disease preparedness guidance for homelessness assistance providers
- Launch of COVID-19 information and referrals through the multilingual Mass 2-1-1 hotline (Mass.gov, March 13, 2020)
- DHCD guidance to shelters for families with children (PDF) and shelters for unaccompanied adults (PDF) *Please note that we have concerns with elements of this guidance, and actively are working to ensure that families and individuals in need of shelter have safe places to quarantine, if necessary, and safe places to avoid exposure to the coronavirus.
- Details on federal-level advocacy on responding to the coronavirus pandemic from the National Low Income Housing Coalition and National Coalition for the Homeless
- Resource list from the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth to address social isolation
- Philanthropy Massachusetts list of funding and resources related to coronavirus, with national, statewide, regional, and local listings
- Center for American Progress statement: Lawmakers must include homeless individuals and families in coronavirus responses
- COVID-19 essential service workers excluded from the stay at home advisory (PDF, Mass.gov, March 23, 202
Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Help Push for an Emergency Expansion of the RAFT Homelessness Prevention Program
April 8, 2020; last updated May 12, 2020
**Please sign and share our one-minute online RAFT action here.**
The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT, budget line item 7004-9316) program is a key tool to help families with children, unaccompanied youth, elders, people with disabilities, and other households avoid or exit homelessness. RAFT provides funds for needs such as back rent payments, back utility payments, first month's rent, last month's rent, security deposits, and transportation costs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of Massachusetts households are falling further behind on rent, utilities, and other needs after facing job losses, work hour reductions, and unexpected costs. Read more on how to access RAFT during the pandemic here: English and Spanish.
Recently, MassHousing transferred $5 million to create a COVID-19 fund within RAFT*, and the Legislature has acted to decrease the documentation burden on households applying for funds (see Chapter 56 of the Acts of 2020, Section 5.)
The Coalition is working with allied organizations to ask the Legislature to appropriate $50 million in additional funding for RAFT to address COVID-19 needs. We also are working to make positive changes to improve access and eligibility for RAFT:
Advocacy Opportunity:
Will you join us? Please contact your State Representative and Senator today to ask them to support $50 million in emergency supplemental funding and program improvements for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (line item 7004-9316).
**Please sign and share our one-minute online action here.**
Want to call your legislators? Find your legislators' contact information here: www.wheredoivotema.com or www.malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Let us know how your emails and calls go by contacting Kelly.
Thank you for your collaboration and work to ensure that everyone has a safe place to stay at home during the stay at home advisory and beyond!
* Here is guidance from the Department of Housing and Community Development to the RAFT providers on using the COVID-19 RAFT funds.
**Please sign and share our one-minute online RAFT action here.**
The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT, budget line item 7004-9316) program is a key tool to help families with children, unaccompanied youth, elders, people with disabilities, and other households avoid or exit homelessness. RAFT provides funds for needs such as back rent payments, back utility payments, first month's rent, last month's rent, security deposits, and transportation costs. During the COVID-19 pandemic, tens of thousands of Massachusetts households are falling further behind on rent, utilities, and other needs after facing job losses, work hour reductions, and unexpected costs. Read more on how to access RAFT during the pandemic here: English and Spanish.
Recently, MassHousing transferred $5 million to create a COVID-19 fund within RAFT*, and the Legislature has acted to decrease the documentation burden on households applying for funds (see Chapter 56 of the Acts of 2020, Section 5.)
The Coalition is working with allied organizations to ask the Legislature to appropriate $50 million in additional funding for RAFT to address COVID-19 needs. We also are working to make positive changes to improve access and eligibility for RAFT:
- Allow households to access any new COVID-19 RAFT funds "upstream", before having to begin the eviction or utility shut-off process
- Protect access to funds for the lowest income households (with incomes at or below 30% area median income), while allowing a portion of any COVID-19 funds to go to households normally just above the income eligibility limits if they have been impacted by COVID-19
- Further decrease the documentation burden on households applying for funds, and allow households to apply electronically for benefits
- Allow households to apply for RAFT funds, even if they received RAFT payments in the past 12 months
- Clarify that households accessing the Upstream RAFT pilot program are eligible for up to four months of back rent or back mortgage payments, even if that exceeds the Traditional RAFT cap of $4,000
- Raise the cap for Traditional and COVID-19 RAFT from $4,000/year to at least $10,000/year to more effectively and realistically meet needs
Advocacy Opportunity:
Will you join us? Please contact your State Representative and Senator today to ask them to support $50 million in emergency supplemental funding and program improvements for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (line item 7004-9316).
**Please sign and share our one-minute online action here.**
Want to call your legislators? Find your legislators' contact information here: www.wheredoivotema.com or www.malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Let us know how your emails and calls go by contacting Kelly.
Thank you for your collaboration and work to ensure that everyone has a safe place to stay at home during the stay at home advisory and beyond!
* Here is guidance from the Department of Housing and Community Development to the RAFT providers on using the COVID-19 RAFT funds.
Ask Congress to Prioritize Housing in the Next Coronavirus Package
April 20, 2020
Please join with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless and the National Low Income Housing Coalition in letting your members of Congress (U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators) know today that more federal resources are needed to ensure that the most vulnerable populations, including people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, stay safe and healthy during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now more than ever, it’s clear that housing is health care. People experiencing homelessness are at extreme risk during the pandemic. Many are elders, have disabilities and/or underlying medical conditions, live in crowded shelters or unsanitary conditions, and lack the ability to quarantine, isolate, and recover. The lowest-income, severely housing cost-burdened renters are at high risk of coronavirus complications as well as the threat of eviction and homelessness due to loss of income. The spread of COVID-19 among these populations threatens their health and safety - and that of us all.
The resources and provisions in the recently passed federal CARES Act were an important first step in addressing some of the urgent needs of people experiencing homelessness and those on the brink of experiencing homelessness. But much more is needed, including emergency rental assistance for the lowest-income renter households who are one missed rent payment from eviction and homelessness.
Please contact your members of Congress today and ask them to include at least $11.5 billion in Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG); a national, uniform moratorium on evictions and foreclosures; and $100 billion in emergency rental assistance and eviction prevention.
We all benefit when we prioritize the needs of the lowest-income and most marginalized people in Massachusetts and all across our country. Doing so protects the health and lives of tens of millions of people, the front-line providers serving them, and our healthcare systems.
Help make sure everyone stays healthy and safe during this time of crisis. Contact your federal legislators today. Please let us know that you took action, and about any responses you receive.
Thank you for your advocacy!
Join Us in Asking Governor Baker to Take Swift Action to Protect Children and Families Experiencing Homelessness During the COVID-19 Pandemic
April 24, 2020
Background:
Please ask Governor Charlie Baker to take action now for children and parents experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families in the Commonwealth’s Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter system are at risk of a rapid and potentially devastating spread of COVID-19 as they continue to share communal bathrooms, kitchens, and other living spaces in congregate shelters and so-called “co-shelters” (shared apartment-style placements.) Meanwhile, countless other families experiencing homelessness are shut out of the state’s shelter program altogether due to restrictive eligibility guidelines; other families are eligible for EA shelter but have to stay in unsafe situations for days on end due to bureaucratic delays before being placed in shelter by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
While families in congregate shelters remain at risk from the pandemic, and families that cannot get into shelter are sleeping in their cars, in hospital emergency departments, or in unsafe, overcrowded double-up situations, thousands of hotel and motel rooms sit empty all across the state. We believe the Commonwealth should utilize these hotel and motel rooms throughout the pandemic to provide safe shelter to families experiencing homelessness.
We are calling Governor Baker to utilize hotel and motel rooms, as well as even more stand-alone apartments (“scattered site shelters”), to de-densify congregate shelters, and to provide crucial access to shelter for all families in need during this time. Use the call-in script below to join us in letting Governor Baker know that he needs to act now!
Take Action With Us!
Please call the Governor’s Constituent Services Line at 617-725-4005 or 888-870-7770 (toll-free in Massachusetts).
Here is a sample script for your call:
“I urge the Governor to prioritize the health and safety of children and parents experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families experiencing homelessness deserve to be able to practice physical and social distancing safely, and cannot do so in crowded congregate shelters and co-shelters where they have to share communal spaces. Families that are experiencing homelessness but can’t get into the Emergency Assistance system also are in dangerous situations that undermine the public health and the Commonwealth’s efforts to flatten the curve. I’m asking that the Commonwealth work to de-densify shelters by placing families in hotel and motel rooms, and to provide immediate placements to all families in need. Families should be able to easily and readily access shelter, including families that are not eligible for EA shelter, and should not be subject to burdensome verification requirements. I will be following up with a written request and look forward to seeing immediate action on this issue. Families experiencing homelessness urgently need to be given ways to safely distance during the pandemic, and we have the tools to do so. Thank you.”
As a follow-up, please also email the Governor’s Office through the form at https://www.mass.gov/forms/email-the-governors-office, and let us know you took action by emailing kelly@mahomeless.org.
Advocacy Requests
Background:
Please ask Governor Charlie Baker to take action now for children and parents experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families in the Commonwealth’s Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter system are at risk of a rapid and potentially devastating spread of COVID-19 as they continue to share communal bathrooms, kitchens, and other living spaces in congregate shelters and so-called “co-shelters” (shared apartment-style placements.) Meanwhile, countless other families experiencing homelessness are shut out of the state’s shelter program altogether due to restrictive eligibility guidelines; other families are eligible for EA shelter but have to stay in unsafe situations for days on end due to bureaucratic delays before being placed in shelter by the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).
While families in congregate shelters remain at risk from the pandemic, and families that cannot get into shelter are sleeping in their cars, in hospital emergency departments, or in unsafe, overcrowded double-up situations, thousands of hotel and motel rooms sit empty all across the state. We believe the Commonwealth should utilize these hotel and motel rooms throughout the pandemic to provide safe shelter to families experiencing homelessness.
We are calling Governor Baker to utilize hotel and motel rooms, as well as even more stand-alone apartments (“scattered site shelters”), to de-densify congregate shelters, and to provide crucial access to shelter for all families in need during this time. Use the call-in script below to join us in letting Governor Baker know that he needs to act now!
Take Action With Us!
Please call the Governor’s Constituent Services Line at 617-725-4005 or 888-870-7770 (toll-free in Massachusetts).
Here is a sample script for your call:
“I urge the Governor to prioritize the health and safety of children and parents experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families experiencing homelessness deserve to be able to practice physical and social distancing safely, and cannot do so in crowded congregate shelters and co-shelters where they have to share communal spaces. Families that are experiencing homelessness but can’t get into the Emergency Assistance system also are in dangerous situations that undermine the public health and the Commonwealth’s efforts to flatten the curve. I’m asking that the Commonwealth work to de-densify shelters by placing families in hotel and motel rooms, and to provide immediate placements to all families in need. Families should be able to easily and readily access shelter, including families that are not eligible for EA shelter, and should not be subject to burdensome verification requirements. I will be following up with a written request and look forward to seeing immediate action on this issue. Families experiencing homelessness urgently need to be given ways to safely distance during the pandemic, and we have the tools to do so. Thank you.”
As a follow-up, please also email the Governor’s Office through the form at https://www.mass.gov/forms/email-the-governors-office, and let us know you took action by emailing kelly@mahomeless.org.
Advocacy Requests
- Support the immediate identification, procurement, and funding of additional shelter capacity, both within and outside the Emergency Assistance system, to provide safe placements in which children and parents do not have to share bathrooms or eating facilities with anyone outside their family unit
- Utilize motel and hotel spaces to provide safe shelter for children and parents experiencing homelessness, combined with robust supportive services and the availability of necessities such as food, medicine, diapers, cleaning supplies, and remote case management services
- Ensure that families have uninterrupted access to the EA application process throughout the COVID-19 crisis
- Ensure that the Department of Housing and Community Development honors existing law that allows families to provide self-certifications and use the presumptive placement process as a standard practice, recognizing that many families have limited access to documents, collateral contacts, and the technology needed to submit verifications
- Direct DHCD to continue to suspend EA terminations throughout the entire COVID-19 state of emergency so that families are not kicked out of shelter
- Direct DHCD to waive the existing 12-month bar on re-entering shelter to allow otherwise eligible families to be approved for EA shelter if they face a recurrence of homelessness during this pandemic
- Provide immediate, alternative safe shelter for families experiencing homelessness that are ineligible for Emergency Assistance
- Direct the Massachusetts Department of Public Health to issue an order for the provision of non-congregate shelter and associated supportive services for people at risk of severe COVID-19 infection (not only for people who are already known to have or have been exposed to the virus), so as to reduce the risk of exposure to COVID-19 for children and families experiencing homelessness, and to seek reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and other appropriate sources
- Direct DHCD and any other relevant agencies immediately to develop protocols to (i) identify families experiencing homelessness that have underlying health conditions that put them at high risk for severe COVID-19 infection and (ii) allocate non-congregate shelter placements to families in this high-risk category
- Collaborate with the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, stakeholders from the advocacy and provider communities, and families experiencing homelessness in the development and implementation of the above policies
Everyone Counts: Make Sure People Experiencing Homelessness Are Part of the 2020 U.S.Census
Posted January 21, 2020; last updated May 7, 2020
April 1st is Census Day! Our voices matter, especially during a pandemic. Replying to the Census is safe and easy to do remotely and doesn’t require in-person interaction. Households should have received a mailing with a unique identifying ID code that they can input at 2020census.gov. If taking the census online isn’t an option, households can also reply over the phone and have access to 12 non-English languages. Households and individuals can also respond via mail in mid-April, as they will receive a paper form and an already stamped and addressed envelope in which to send the Census back. Participating in the Census is important and helps allocate billions of dollars in funding as well as crucial political representation at every level of the state.
How to respond to the Census: https://2020census.gov/en/ways-to-respond.html
The Census Bureau remains committed to getting a complete and accurate count, even as the situation changes rapidly. Many of the Coalition’s participants fall under the umbrella of Service-Based Enumeration (SBE), which is a three-day period during which the Census Bureau will directly interact with service providers in order to enumerate as many people as they can at those locations. This includes locations like shelters, food pantries, and mobile food vans. Depending on the size of these locations, census enumerators will either individually interview each participant or will gather a list of participants and their demographics from provider administration. Initially, SBE was slated to take place between March 30th and April 1st. However, the Census suspended those plans and reached out to service providers to learn more about what their operations status is looking like. As of April 13th, the Census has indefinitely suspended SBE. In the meantime, they are urging service providers and other Group Quarters locations to use the eResponse process if they are not already committed to doing so. The eResponse process allows providers to confidentially and electronically share records of their participants with the Census and eliminates the need for an in person visit.
Learn more about SBE: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/2018-census-test/test/providence/group-quarters/sbe.html
The Census also plans to extend the period of time in which they will be enumerating Targeted Non-Sheltered Outdoor Locations (TNSOLs), which are outdoor areas where people are living such as encampments, underpasses, and sidewalks. The Census now plans to enumerate these locations from September 3rd - 28th. Enumerators at these locations will do a headcount of the people they see staying there and will not be conducting in-person interviews.
The Census is also extending the period of outreach they do for Non-Response Follow-Up until October 31st, as their field operations are currently suspended until June 1st. The Census also plans to delay the start of their Mobile Questionnaire Assistance programs, which are non-permanent help centers that are designed to help people answer questions they have about the Census and assist them in being able to fill it out on their own. More information is to come in the following days but taking the Census remains safe, easy, and important.
Information on MQAs: https://www.census.gov/library/fact-sheets/2020/dec/2020-mobile-questionnaire-assistance.html
Thank you to everyone who joined us for our five trainings in cities across the state during the month of February to help ensure that all people experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts are counted as part of the 2020 United States Census.
Thank you to our training hosts in Boston, Hyannis, Lynn, Springfield, and Worcester.
These trainings brought together advocates, providers, community members, people with lived experience, Census Bureau staff, and local Complete Count Committee members to work on best practices and effective outreach and engagement strategies in order to assure a complete count of people experiencing homelessness for the 2020 Census. We talked about the importance of the Census, barriers to a complete count, and discussed questions and concerns.
For more information, please contact Marwa.
Legislative Action Day 2020: Sharing Our Gratitude and Next Steps
Posted March 5, 2020
Our hearts are filled with gratitude for all of your support for last week's Legislative Action Day at the State House! We had more than 200 people with us: families, youth, and adults with lived experience of homelessness, providers, advocates, legislators, and other people of conscience, all speaking up for solutions to homelessness, housing instability, and poverty, and taking action to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.
We are especially grateful to all of our event volunteers, including planning team member Charles Dietrick, and speakers: community members with lived experience of homelessness, legislators, and advocates (see the agenda here). Check out State House News coverage of the event and some photos from the day (and please share additional photos to be added to the album, along with any photo credit or suggested caption).
We also are very thankful to everyone who met with and/or called legislators and staff in the afternoon to advocate for key homelessness and housing bill and budget priorities-- including the #EveryoneNeedsID Mass ID access bill that passed the Senate unanimously on Legislative Action Day! Links to fact sheets on the Coalition's key FY'21 budget requests (PDF), 2019-2020 bill priorities (PDF), and other materials are on the Legislative Action Day page.
If you did speak with legislators and staff, please complete the legislative response form. If you didn't, it is not too late! Please contact your State Representative and State Senator and/or their staff in the week ahead to express your support for the Coalition's budget and bill priorities. Ask your State Senator and State Representative to actively support these priorities throughout the FY'21 budget process and this bill session. Legislators' contact information can be found at www.malegislature.gov/people/search or at www.wheredoivotema.com. Here are some other tips for talking to legislative offices.
From across the Commonwealth, we raised our voices with one message, and took action to end homelessness. Let's continue to build up that momentum!
Thank you for your partnership and solidarity!
Our hearts are filled with gratitude for all of your support for last week's Legislative Action Day at the State House! We had more than 200 people with us: families, youth, and adults with lived experience of homelessness, providers, advocates, legislators, and other people of conscience, all speaking up for solutions to homelessness, housing instability, and poverty, and taking action to ensure that everyone has a place to call home.
We are especially grateful to all of our event volunteers, including planning team member Charles Dietrick, and speakers: community members with lived experience of homelessness, legislators, and advocates (see the agenda here). Check out State House News coverage of the event and some photos from the day (and please share additional photos to be added to the album, along with any photo credit or suggested caption).
We also are very thankful to everyone who met with and/or called legislators and staff in the afternoon to advocate for key homelessness and housing bill and budget priorities-- including the #EveryoneNeedsID Mass ID access bill that passed the Senate unanimously on Legislative Action Day! Links to fact sheets on the Coalition's key FY'21 budget requests (PDF), 2019-2020 bill priorities (PDF), and other materials are on the Legislative Action Day page.
If you did speak with legislators and staff, please complete the legislative response form. If you didn't, it is not too late! Please contact your State Representative and State Senator and/or their staff in the week ahead to express your support for the Coalition's budget and bill priorities. Ask your State Senator and State Representative to actively support these priorities throughout the FY'21 budget process and this bill session. Legislators' contact information can be found at www.malegislature.gov/people/search or at www.wheredoivotema.com. Here are some other tips for talking to legislative offices.
From across the Commonwealth, we raised our voices with one message, and took action to end homelessness. Let's continue to build up that momentum!
Thank you for your partnership and solidarity!
Massachusetts Youth Count 2020
Posted February 5, 2020, last updated April 15, 2020
** This year's Youth Count, which had been scheduled for Monday, April 13th - Sunday, May 17th, is cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. **
The Massachusetts Youth Count mobilizes youth, young adults, youth providers funded by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Continua of Care, schools, and other community partners to survey young people under the age of 25 from all across the Commonwealth who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The insights and data gathered from the survey process are used to influence advocacy and programming to address youth and young adult homelessness. The Coalition has been a lead collaborator with the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth since the inception of the Massachusetts Youth Count back in 2014.
The results of last year's Massachusetts Youth Count are now available. Read the 2019 Youth Count report (PDF) and Executive Summary (PDF) from the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth here. Regional data is posted on our Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness page.
For more details about the Coalition's advocacy on addressing and ending youth and young adult homelessness, please click here:unaccompanied youth and young adult homelessness page or contact Kelly. Follow the Massachusetts Youth Count on social media: Youth Count Facebook page and Youth Count Twitter feed. Please also see our coronavirus/COVID-19 page for news and advocacy requests.
** This year's Youth Count, which had been scheduled for Monday, April 13th - Sunday, May 17th, is cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. **
The Massachusetts Youth Count mobilizes youth, young adults, youth providers funded by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Continua of Care, schools, and other community partners to survey young people under the age of 25 from all across the Commonwealth who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The insights and data gathered from the survey process are used to influence advocacy and programming to address youth and young adult homelessness. The Coalition has been a lead collaborator with the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth since the inception of the Massachusetts Youth Count back in 2014.
As noted above, this year's Youth Count, which had been scheduled for Monday, April 13th - Sunday, May 17th, has been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The results of last year's Massachusetts Youth Count are now available. Read the 2019 Youth Count report (PDF) and Executive Summary (PDF) from the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth here. Regional data is posted on our Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness page.
For more details about the Coalition's advocacy on addressing and ending youth and young adult homelessness, please click here:unaccompanied youth and young adult homelessness page or contact Kelly. Follow the Massachusetts Youth Count on social media: Youth Count Facebook page and Youth Count Twitter feed. Please also see our coronavirus/COVID-19 page for news and advocacy requests.
Legislative Action Day 2020: Please Plan to Join Us at the State House on February 27th
Posted November 20, 2019; last updated February 26, 2020
We hope to see you at the State House in Boston for our annual Legislative Action Day tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, 2020 in the Great Hall. * Our agenda for the day is here (PDF).*
The event will be hosted by State Representative Jim O'Day. Our keynote speaker will be Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (and the Coalition's former Housing Policy Coordinator!) At Legislative Action Day, participants will hear from families, youth, and adults with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability, as well as researchers, advocates, and legislators. The day will focus on advocating for key 2019-2020 bill priorities (PDF) and FY'21 budget priorities (see Column C).
Legislative Action Day will begin with check-in and light breakfast starting at 9 a.m., with the speaking program from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. In the afternoon, participants will fan out across the State House to meet with legislators and their staff to share their support for deeper investments in housing, homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, income support programs, and related resources. We can help you set up those meetings; just let us know by making note on the registration form.
Here are some basic tips (PDF) to help guide your meetings with legislators and staff. (We also are hosting a pre-event training call on Wednesday, February 19th, which will include additional tips and time for questions/answers.) After your meetings with legislative offices, please let us know how your meetings go by completing our legislative visit response form.
Registration is now open. Register today to participate and sign up here to be an event-day volunteer. Please also help us spread the word by inviting your colleagues, friends, and neighbors.
Read our Legislative Action Day media advisory here (PDF).
Fact sheets and links to our bill and budget priority campaigns:
For more information, please contact Kelly.
We hope to see you at the State House in Boston for our annual Legislative Action Day tomorrow, Thursday, February 27, 2020 in the Great Hall. * Our agenda for the day is here (PDF).*
The event will be hosted by State Representative Jim O'Day. Our keynote speaker will be Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition (and the Coalition's former Housing Policy Coordinator!) At Legislative Action Day, participants will hear from families, youth, and adults with lived experience of homelessness and housing instability, as well as researchers, advocates, and legislators. The day will focus on advocating for key 2019-2020 bill priorities (PDF) and FY'21 budget priorities (see Column C).
Legislative Action Day will begin with check-in and light breakfast starting at 9 a.m., with the speaking program from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. In the afternoon, participants will fan out across the State House to meet with legislators and their staff to share their support for deeper investments in housing, homelessness prevention, emergency shelter, income support programs, and related resources. We can help you set up those meetings; just let us know by making note on the registration form.
Here are some basic tips (PDF) to help guide your meetings with legislators and staff. (We also are hosting a pre-event training call on Wednesday, February 19th, which will include additional tips and time for questions/answers.) After your meetings with legislative offices, please let us know how your meetings go by completing our legislative visit response form.
Registration is now open. Register today to participate and sign up here to be an event-day volunteer. Please also help us spread the word by inviting your colleagues, friends, and neighbors.
Read our Legislative Action Day media advisory here (PDF).
Fact sheets and links to our bill and budget priority campaigns:
- Our 2019-2020 bill priorities are outlined in this overview and in this bill priority chart
- Our FY'21 budget priorities are outlined in this overview and are included in Column C of this chart
- Upstream RAFT/Rent Arrearage Assistance Program bill fact sheet (PDF) and endorsers list (PDF)
- Emergency Assistance places not meant for human habitation bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Mass ID access bill fact sheet
- Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program bill fact sheet (EAEDC, PDF)
- Bill of Rights for people experiencing homelessness bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Act of Living bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Right to Counsel bill fact sheet (PDF)
- Lift Our Kids Out of Deep Poverty bill fact sheet (PDF)
- FY'21 budget request for housing and services for unaccompanied youth (PDF, updated 2-24-20)
- FY'21 budget request for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, PDF)
For more information, please contact Kelly.
Prepare for Advocacy and Action: Join Our Pre-Legislative Action Day Training Call on February 19th
Posted February 13, 2020
The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless will be offering a training via conference call (PDF) to help participants prepare to take part in our upcoming Legislative Action Day 2020.
At Legislative Action Day, we will be pushing for key budget and bill priorities, such as putting the new upstream rental arrearage program into state statute; increasing funding to $8 million for housing and services for unaccompanied youth and young adults; strengthening cash assistance programs for families with children, elders, and people with disabilities, easing access to Mass ID cards for people experiencing homelessness; creating more housing subsidies under the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program; and passing the bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness.
Learn more and join with advocates, providers, and concerned citizens from across Massachusetts to strengthen the movement to prevent and end homelessness!
Training Call Details
Date: Wednesday, February 19th
Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Call-in Number: 712-775-7031
Access Code: 988-871-622#
To register for the February 19th training call, please visit https://tinyurl.com/lad20call and https://conta.cc/3bDpUn5.
To register for the February 27th Legislative Action Day, please visit https://tinyurl.com/lad2020.
For more information about the event, please go to https://tinyurl.com/mchlad20 or email Kelly.
The Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless will be offering a training via conference call (PDF) to help participants prepare to take part in our upcoming Legislative Action Day 2020.
At Legislative Action Day, we will be pushing for key budget and bill priorities, such as putting the new upstream rental arrearage program into state statute; increasing funding to $8 million for housing and services for unaccompanied youth and young adults; strengthening cash assistance programs for families with children, elders, and people with disabilities, easing access to Mass ID cards for people experiencing homelessness; creating more housing subsidies under the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program and the Alternative Housing Voucher Program; and passing the bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness.
Learn more and join with advocates, providers, and concerned citizens from across Massachusetts to strengthen the movement to prevent and end homelessness!
Training Call Details
Date: Wednesday, February 19th
Time: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Call-in Number: 712-775-7031
Access Code: 988-871-622#
To register for the February 19th training call, please visit https://tinyurl.com/lad20call and https://conta.cc/3bDpUn5.
To register for the February 27th Legislative Action Day, please visit https://tinyurl.com/lad2020.
For more information about the event, please go to https://tinyurl.com/mchlad20 or email Kelly.
Join us on Thursday, 9/26 for a State House briefing on unaccompanied youth homelessness + the #EveryoneNeedsID bill
Posted September 20, 2019
The Coalition will be joining with Representative Kay Khan, Representative Jim O'Day, Senator Harriette Chandler, youth and young adults with lived experience of homelessness, and others for a legislative briefing on unaccompanied youth homelessness issues.
Come join us! The event will be held on Thursday, September 26th from 11 a.m.-noon at the State House in Room 437.
Speakers will include:
The Coalition will be joining with Representative Kay Khan, Representative Jim O'Day, Senator Harriette Chandler, youth and young adults with lived experience of homelessness, and others for a legislative briefing on unaccompanied youth homelessness issues.
Come join us! The event will be held on Thursday, September 26th from 11 a.m.-noon at the State House in Room 437.
Speakers will include:
- A member of the Boston Youth Action Board
- The legislative sponsors
- Linn Torto, Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness
- Danielle Ferrier, Heading Home
- Kelly Turley, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless
Let us know you will be attending by emailing Kelly.
Take Action to Improve the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children Program (EAEDC)
Help push for passage of House Bill 621/Senate Bill 356
Posted September 12, 2019; last updated September 18th
What is EAEDC?
The Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program (EAEDC), is a state-funded cash assistance and benefits program providing support to over 19,000 extremely low-income individuals. The program is administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
What would An Act Relative to Assisting Elders and People with Disabilities in the Commonwealth, House Bill 621/Senate Bill 356, do?
This bill, filed by Representative Jim O'Day and Senator Pat Jehlen, would:
Thank you for your collaboration!
What is EAEDC?
The Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program (EAEDC), is a state-funded cash assistance and benefits program providing support to over 19,000 extremely low-income individuals. The program is administered by the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA).
What would An Act Relative to Assisting Elders and People with Disabilities in the Commonwealth, House Bill 621/Senate Bill 356, do?
This bill, filed by Representative Jim O'Day and Senator Pat Jehlen, would:
- Increase the EAEDC grant levels to match DTA grant levels for households of the same size that are participating in the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (TAFDC)
- Update state statute to reflect the removal of the homelessness penalty for individuals experiencing homelessness (removed via FY'19 and FY'20 state budget language)
- Increase the allowable personal asset limit from $250 to $2,500
- Create an annual cost of living adjustment (COLA) for EAEDC program participants
- Campaign fact sheet (updated 9-18-19)
- House and Senate bill pages
- Form for organizations to endorse the EAEDC campaign
- EAEDC participant caseload information from DTA through their monthly Facts and Figures reports
- A look at the where EAEDC participants live around the state, based on zip code data from DTA
- Testimony to the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs in support of the bill:
- If you are part of an organization, ask your organization to sign on as an endorser of the bill and related budget campaign. You can add your organization to the growing list of endorsers here or by emailing us.
- Spread the word to other organizations to encourage them to sign on as well.
- Share your story of why improving the EAEDC program is important to you, as an EAEDC program participant, advocate, service provider, or community member. You can share your story in writing, over the phone, by video, or in a one-on-one meeting with Coalition staff. Contact us to learn more.
- Thank you to everyone who testified and showed support by being in the room at the EAEDC bill hearing at the State House on Tuesday, September 17, 2019. The hearing was organized by the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs.
- Even though the hearing has happened, you still can submit written testimony to the Joint Committee on Elder Affairs, chaired by Representative Ruth Balser and Senator Pat Jehlen. We are happy to collect your testimony and deliver it for you, along with the testimony from other EAEDC participants and advocates.You can use the testimonies posted above to help you develop your own testimony.
- Stay tuned about the campaign by joining the Coalition's email list.
Thank you for your collaboration!
FY'20 Budget Advocacy: The Conference Committee is Meeting Now to Finalize the State Budget
Posted June 11, 2019; updated June 20th
** There's still time to take action! Please sign and share our latest one-minute online action in support of the Coalition's FY'20 budget priorities for the Conference Committee stage of the budget process. If you prefer printing and mailing the letter, a PDF version is here.**
At the end of May, the State Senate wrapped up their budget. Last week, the three House and three Senate members who make up the FY'20 budget Conference Committee began meeting to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. The conferees are Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, Senate Ways and Means Vice Chair Cindy Friedman, Senate Ways and Means Ranking Minority Member Viriato (Vinny) deMacedo, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, House Ways and Means Vice Chair Denise Garlick, and House Ways and Means Ranking Minority Member Todd Smola.
As the Conference Committee meets, we want to make sure that the conferees and House and Senate leadership are hearing directly from Massachusetts residents and from their legislative colleagues in support of key homelessness, housing, and benefits issues. Today, we are asking you to sign and share our latest one-minute online action in support of the Coalition's FY'20 budget priorities for the Conference Committee stage of the budget process. This letter will be sent to your State Senator and Representative, asking them actively to weigh in in support of the deepest investments and most helpful budget language possible.
The action highlights our requests for:
• Senate-proposed language for the Emergency Assistance family shelter program to ensure that children and families do not have to stay in places not meant for human habitation before accessing shelter, and Senate-proposed funding level of $178.7 million, which is $13 million more than the House-proposed level (EA, line item 7004-0101). We are grateful that both the House and Senate budgets would allow families to retain shelter benefits while increasing their incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (before the existing grace period would begin).
• Senate-proposed funding of $5 million for housing and wraparound services for unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing homelessness (line item 4000-0007), which is $1.7 million more than the House-proposed level
• Senate-proposed funding of $21 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition homelessness prevention program (RAFT, line item 7004-9316), which is $1 million more than the House-proposed level
• House-proposed direct funding of $110 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, line item 7004-9024), which is $6 million more than the Senate-proposed direct appropriation, and Senate-proposed language that would update the allowable monthly rent levels to match current fair market rents for mobile subsidies issued or renewed on or after August 1st and that would carry over $6,000,000 in unspent FY'19 funds
Here is our updated FY'20 budget chart, with our analysis of key line items related to homelessness, housing, and benefits, including our Conference Committee requests in columns O and P.
Please stay tuned for additional updates. Thank you for your advocacy and partnership!
** There's still time to take action! Please sign and share our latest one-minute online action in support of the Coalition's FY'20 budget priorities for the Conference Committee stage of the budget process. If you prefer printing and mailing the letter, a PDF version is here.**
At the end of May, the State Senate wrapped up their budget. Last week, the three House and three Senate members who make up the FY'20 budget Conference Committee began meeting to iron out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the budget. The conferees are Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues, Senate Ways and Means Vice Chair Cindy Friedman, Senate Ways and Means Ranking Minority Member Viriato (Vinny) deMacedo, House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz, House Ways and Means Vice Chair Denise Garlick, and House Ways and Means Ranking Minority Member Todd Smola.
As the Conference Committee meets, we want to make sure that the conferees and House and Senate leadership are hearing directly from Massachusetts residents and from their legislative colleagues in support of key homelessness, housing, and benefits issues. Today, we are asking you to sign and share our latest one-minute online action in support of the Coalition's FY'20 budget priorities for the Conference Committee stage of the budget process. This letter will be sent to your State Senator and Representative, asking them actively to weigh in in support of the deepest investments and most helpful budget language possible.
The action highlights our requests for:
• Senate-proposed language for the Emergency Assistance family shelter program to ensure that children and families do not have to stay in places not meant for human habitation before accessing shelter, and Senate-proposed funding level of $178.7 million, which is $13 million more than the House-proposed level (EA, line item 7004-0101). We are grateful that both the House and Senate budgets would allow families to retain shelter benefits while increasing their incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines (before the existing grace period would begin).
• Senate-proposed funding of $5 million for housing and wraparound services for unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing homelessness (line item 4000-0007), which is $1.7 million more than the House-proposed level
• Senate-proposed funding of $21 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition homelessness prevention program (RAFT, line item 7004-9316), which is $1 million more than the House-proposed level
• House-proposed direct funding of $110 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, line item 7004-9024), which is $6 million more than the Senate-proposed direct appropriation, and Senate-proposed language that would update the allowable monthly rent levels to match current fair market rents for mobile subsidies issued or renewed on or after August 1st and that would carry over $6,000,000 in unspent FY'19 funds
Here is our updated FY'20 budget chart, with our analysis of key line items related to homelessness, housing, and benefits, including our Conference Committee requests in columns O and P.
Please stay tuned for additional updates. Thank you for your advocacy and partnership!
FY'20 Budget Advocacy: The Senate Budget Debate is Underway
Posted May 21, 2019
The Senate's fiscal year 2020 budget debate officially kicked off this morning. Thank you for all of your help in getting Senators to cosponsor and actively support key homelessness amendments. The debate on the 1,142 amendments filed will extend throughout the week.
We are continuing to work on three main amendments:
- Amendment #797 to establish and fund the upstream Rent Arrearage Assistance Program (RAAP) under the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program, filed by Senator Pat Jehlen of Somerville: RAAP Senate amendment fact sheet- PDF, updated 5-14-19; call script - PDF; talking points - PDF
- Amendment #464 to ease access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness, filed by Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler of Worcester: Mass ID access amendment fact sheet - PDF, updated 5-14-19
- Amendment #715 to provide an additional $20 million to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, filed by Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn: general FY'20 MRVP budget fact sheet - PDF
We also are partnering with allied organizations on related amendments to additional programs, including:
- Amendment #872 to allow families in Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter to increase their incomes to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines before going over the income limit, filed by Senator Patrick O'Connor of Weymouth (as described in our budget priority chart)
Here is our updated FY'20 budget chart, with our analysis of key line items related to homelessness, housing, and benefits, and preliminary information about budget amendments that were filed (see columns K-L ), as well as our May 8th action alert and May 14th action alert.
Please stay tuned for additional updates, or follow along by watching the sessions online. Thank you for your advocacy and partnership!
The Senate's fiscal year 2020 budget debate officially kicked off this morning. Thank you for all of your help in getting Senators to cosponsor and actively support key homelessness amendments. The debate on the 1,142 amendments filed will extend throughout the week.
We are continuing to work on three main amendments:
- Amendment #797 to establish and fund the upstream Rent Arrearage Assistance Program (RAAP) under the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program, filed by Senator Pat Jehlen of Somerville: RAAP Senate amendment fact sheet- PDF, updated 5-14-19; call script - PDF; talking points - PDF
- Amendment #464 to ease access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness, filed by Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler of Worcester: Mass ID access amendment fact sheet - PDF, updated 5-14-19
- Amendment #715 to provide an additional $20 million to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, filed by Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn: general FY'20 MRVP budget fact sheet - PDF
We also are partnering with allied organizations on related amendments to additional programs, including:
- Amendment #872 to allow families in Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter to increase their incomes to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines before going over the income limit, filed by Senator Patrick O'Connor of Weymouth (as described in our budget priority chart)
Here is our updated FY'20 budget chart, with our analysis of key line items related to homelessness, housing, and benefits, and preliminary information about budget amendments that were filed (see columns K-L ), as well as our May 8th action alert and May 14th action alert.
Please stay tuned for additional updates, or follow along by watching the sessions online. Thank you for your advocacy and partnership!
FY'20 Budget Advocacy: A Look at the Senate Ways and Means Budget and Senate Budget Amendments
Posted May 8, 2019, last updated May 14th
** Please see our May 14th action alert and join us in taking action: Take action with us! Please ask your State Senator to cosponsor key homelessness prevention, housing, and benefits amendments to improve upon the FY'20 Senate Ways and Means budget **
On May 7th, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its fiscal year 2020 budget recommendations. This is the first budget under the leadership of Senate President Karen Spilka of Ashland and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues of Westport. Senate Ways and Means (SWM) recommended $42.7 billion in spending for the new fiscal year, which will begin on July 1st.
The budget includes strong recommended language and proposed investments in homelessness, housing, and benefits programs, including:
· Emergency Assistance family and shelter program (EA, line item 7004-0101) language to ensure that families experiencing homelessness do not have to sleep in places not meant for human habitation before becoming eligible for EA shelter (matching our advocacy request on places not meant for human habitation; partially matching our overall request)
· $1.7 million in additional funding for housing and services for unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, which would bring the funding level up to $5 million (matching our advocacy request)
· Level funding of $20 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT, line item 7004-9316), and language that would maintain access for households without dependent children (partially matching our overall advocacy request)
· $10 million in new funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, line item 7004-9024), which would bring the funding level up to $110 million, and language that would update the allowable monthly rent levels to match current fair market rents for mobile subsidies issued or leased after August 1, 2019 (partially matching our advocacy request)
· $1.85 million in additional funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP, line item 7004-9030) that would increase funding to $8 million (matching our advocacy request)
· $6.5 million in additional funding for state-funded public housing operating subsidies (line item 7004-9005) that would increase funding to $72 million (matching our advocacy request)
· Language that would maintain full Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program (EAEDC, line item 4408-1000) benefits to participants experiencing homelessness (matching our advocacy request)
· Important funding and language for the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (TAFDC, line item 4403-2000), including language that would remove the homelessness penalty and restore benefits to families experiencing homelessness, as well as additional funds to provide benefits to families previously subject to the family cap rule (matching/addressing our advocacy request)
Here is our updated FY'20 budget chart, with our initial analysis of key line items related to homelessness, housing, and benefits, and preliminary information about budget amendments that will be filed to improve upon the SWM budget (see columns K-L ), as well as our May 8th action alert.
State Senators were able to file amendments until noon on Friday, May 10th, and can cosponsor amendments until the full Senate budget debate, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 21st.
We are working on three main amendments:
- Amendment #797 to establish and fund the upstream Rent Arrearage Assistance Program (RAAP) under the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program, filed by Senator Pat Jehlen of Somerville: RAAP Senate amendment fact sheet- PDF, updated 5-14-19; call script - PDF; talking points - PDF
- Amendment #464 to ease access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness, filed by Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler of Worcester: Mass ID access amendment fact sheet - PDF, updated 5-14-19
- Amendment #715 to provide an additional $20 million to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, filed by Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn: general FY'20 MRVP budget fact sheet - PDF
Please ask your State Senator to cosponsor and actively support these amendments. You can identify who your Senator is by going to www.wheredoivotema.com, and you can reach your Senator by calling the State House switchboard: 617-722-2000.
We also are partnering with allied organizations on related amendments to additional programs, including:
- Amendment #872 to allow families in Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter to increase their incomes to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines before going over the income limit, filed by Senator Patrick O'Connor of Weymouth (as described in our budget priority chart)
We will be back in touch soon with additional amendment details and updates so that you can help us secure as many amendment cosponsors as possible. If your Senator is a member of Senate Ways and Means or Senate leadership, please thank them for the strong budget.
We continue to be grateful for your collaboration and interest!
** Please see our May 14th action alert and join us in taking action: Take action with us! Please ask your State Senator to cosponsor key homelessness prevention, housing, and benefits amendments to improve upon the FY'20 Senate Ways and Means budget **
On May 7th, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its fiscal year 2020 budget recommendations. This is the first budget under the leadership of Senate President Karen Spilka of Ashland and Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael Rodrigues of Westport. Senate Ways and Means (SWM) recommended $42.7 billion in spending for the new fiscal year, which will begin on July 1st.
The budget includes strong recommended language and proposed investments in homelessness, housing, and benefits programs, including:
· Emergency Assistance family and shelter program (EA, line item 7004-0101) language to ensure that families experiencing homelessness do not have to sleep in places not meant for human habitation before becoming eligible for EA shelter (matching our advocacy request on places not meant for human habitation; partially matching our overall request)
· $1.7 million in additional funding for housing and services for unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing homelessness, which would bring the funding level up to $5 million (matching our advocacy request)
· Level funding of $20 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT, line item 7004-9316), and language that would maintain access for households without dependent children (partially matching our overall advocacy request)
· $10 million in new funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, line item 7004-9024), which would bring the funding level up to $110 million, and language that would update the allowable monthly rent levels to match current fair market rents for mobile subsidies issued or leased after August 1, 2019 (partially matching our advocacy request)
· $1.85 million in additional funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP, line item 7004-9030) that would increase funding to $8 million (matching our advocacy request)
· $6.5 million in additional funding for state-funded public housing operating subsidies (line item 7004-9005) that would increase funding to $72 million (matching our advocacy request)
· Language that would maintain full Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children program (EAEDC, line item 4408-1000) benefits to participants experiencing homelessness (matching our advocacy request)
· Important funding and language for the Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children program (TAFDC, line item 4403-2000), including language that would remove the homelessness penalty and restore benefits to families experiencing homelessness, as well as additional funds to provide benefits to families previously subject to the family cap rule (matching/addressing our advocacy request)
Here is our updated FY'20 budget chart, with our initial analysis of key line items related to homelessness, housing, and benefits, and preliminary information about budget amendments that will be filed to improve upon the SWM budget (see columns K-L ), as well as our May 8th action alert.
State Senators were able to file amendments until noon on Friday, May 10th, and can cosponsor amendments until the full Senate budget debate, which is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, May 21st.
We are working on three main amendments:
- Amendment #797 to establish and fund the upstream Rent Arrearage Assistance Program (RAAP) under the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program, filed by Senator Pat Jehlen of Somerville: RAAP Senate amendment fact sheet- PDF, updated 5-14-19; call script - PDF; talking points - PDF
- Amendment #464 to ease access to Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness, filed by Senate President Emerita Harriette Chandler of Worcester: Mass ID access amendment fact sheet - PDF, updated 5-14-19
- Amendment #715 to provide an additional $20 million to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, filed by Senator Brendan Crighton of Lynn: general FY'20 MRVP budget fact sheet - PDF
Please ask your State Senator to cosponsor and actively support these amendments. You can identify who your Senator is by going to www.wheredoivotema.com, and you can reach your Senator by calling the State House switchboard: 617-722-2000.
We also are partnering with allied organizations on related amendments to additional programs, including:
- Amendment #872 to allow families in Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter to increase their incomes to 200% of the federal poverty guidelines before going over the income limit, filed by Senator Patrick O'Connor of Weymouth (as described in our budget priority chart)
We will be back in touch soon with additional amendment details and updates so that you can help us secure as many amendment cosponsors as possible. If your Senator is a member of Senate Ways and Means or Senate leadership, please thank them for the strong budget.
We continue to be grateful for your collaboration and interest!
Massachusetts Youth Count 2019
Posted March 15, 2019; last updated February 5, 2020
** The results of the 2019 Massachusetts Youth Count are now available. Read the 2019 Youth Count report (PDF) and Executive Summary (PDF) from the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth here. Regional data will be posted on our Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness page. **
The Coalition is proud to be a lead collaborator once again with the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth for the 6th annual Massachusetts Youth Count. The Massachusetts Youth Count mobilizes youth, young adults, youth providers funded by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Continua of Care, schools, and other community partners to survey young people under the age of 25 from all across the Commonwealth who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The insights and data gathered from the survey process are used to influence advocacy and programming to address youth and young adult homelessness.
This year's Youth Count will take place from Friday, April 12th - Sunday, May 12th (with some communities potentially doing additional outreach at events in the weeks after the Youth Count). Here are the survey links:
Here is a Youth Count outreach flyer (PDF, with a QR code to this page), half-page outreach flyer (PDF, with a QR code directly to the online survey; flyer can printed and cut in half), and an overview letter (PDF) from Linn Torto of the Commission and the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness to youth providers funded through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services on Youth Count 2019. Check this page soon for an overview of the 2019 Youth Count and an outreach flyer in Spanish.
The results of the 2019 Massachusetts Youth Count are now available. Read the 2019 Youth Count report (PDF) and Executive Summary (PDF) from the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth here. Regional data will be posted on our Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness page.
For more details about the Coalition's advocacy on addressing and ending youth and young adult homelessness, please click here:unaccompanied youth and young adult homelessness page or contact Kelly. Follow the Massachusetts Youth Count on Facebook: Youth Count Facebook page.
QR code to online survey:
** The results of the 2019 Massachusetts Youth Count are now available. Read the 2019 Youth Count report (PDF) and Executive Summary (PDF) from the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth here. Regional data will be posted on our Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness page. **
The Coalition is proud to be a lead collaborator once again with the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth for the 6th annual Massachusetts Youth Count. The Massachusetts Youth Count mobilizes youth, young adults, youth providers funded by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, Continua of Care, schools, and other community partners to survey young people under the age of 25 from all across the Commonwealth who are experiencing homelessness and housing instability. The insights and data gathered from the survey process are used to influence advocacy and programming to address youth and young adult homelessness.
This year's Youth Count will take place from Friday, April 12th - Sunday, May 12th (with some communities potentially doing additional outreach at events in the weeks after the Youth Count). Here are the survey links:
- Online survey in English
- Online survey in Spanish
- Printable survey in Spanish (PDF, 4-page version)
- Printable (paper) survey in English (PDF) with shortened link to share: tinyurl.com/ycs2019-e
- Printable survey in Haitian Kreyol
- Printable survey in Cape Verdean Creole
- Printable survey in Portuguese
While the regional youth agencies will be entering most surveys, if you are young person completing a paper survey, completed printed surveys can be scanned/photographed and emailed to Kelly or mailed to the Kelly Turley, Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, 73 Buffum Street, Lynn, MA 01902.
** We actively are recruiting youth and young adults who identify as LGBTQ, especially LGBTQ youth of color, to join in the Youth Count as Youth Ambassadors to recruit peers to participate in the survey. Compensation and supports will be provided. If you are interested in serving in the role, please complete this simple self-nomination form. Please also share this Youth Ambassador outreach flyer with other young people who might be interested. Special thanks to the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth for supporting this initiative! **
Here is a Youth Count outreach flyer (PDF, with a QR code to this page), half-page outreach flyer (PDF, with a QR code directly to the online survey; flyer can printed and cut in half), and an overview letter (PDF) from Linn Torto of the Commission and the Interagency Council on Housing and Homelessness to youth providers funded through the Executive Office of Health and Human Services on Youth Count 2019. Check this page soon for an overview of the 2019 Youth Count and an outreach flyer in Spanish.
The results of the 2019 Massachusetts Youth Count are now available. Read the 2019 Youth Count report (PDF) and Executive Summary (PDF) from the Massachusetts Commission on Unaccompanied Homeless Youth here. Regional data will be posted on our Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness page.
For more details about the Coalition's advocacy on addressing and ending youth and young adult homelessness, please click here:unaccompanied youth and young adult homelessness page or contact Kelly. Follow the Massachusetts Youth Count on Facebook: Youth Count Facebook page.
QR code to online survey: