Bill > H1328

This bill aims to transform the Commonwealth's emergency response system and create housing strategies to end the homelessness of unaccompanied adults. It requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to conduct a study to determine the type and amount of permanent supportive housing, non-congregate, and congregate shelter needed to meet housing demand and reduce reliance on shelter. The bill also directs the department to develop a five-year plan to prioritize the building of permanent supportive housing and non-congregate shelter solutions to supplement or replace existing congregate shelter programs. Additionally, the department must create an inventory of existing congregate shelters, assess their cost, and determine the feasibility of converting them to non-congregate shelter and/or permanent supportive housing. Finally, the bill requires the department to develop a specific plan for unique housing responses targeted to unaccompanied adult persons experiencing homelessness, including long-term vouchers, shallow subsidy pools, rapid re-housing resources, and permanent supportive housing, with a focus on the elderly, disabled, medically complex, and LGBTQ+ individuals.