Bill > S972

This bill amends Section 30 of Chapter 23B of the Massachusetts General Laws to establish a clear priority system for accessing emergency shelter assistance. The bill requires the executive office to provide shelter access in a specific order: first to veterans (as defined in Chapter 115), then to elderly persons (as defined in Section 14 of Chapter 19A), and finally to families who are legal residents of Massachusetts and are either homeless or at risk of homelessness, as determined by executive office regulations. By creating this prioritization framework, the legislation aims to provide a structured approach to allocating limited emergency shelter resources, ensuring that vulnerable populations such as veterans and elderly individuals receive priority consideration when seeking shelter assistance. The bill represents an effort to address housing insecurity by establishing a hierarchical system that recognizes and responds to the varying needs of different at-risk groups within the state.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S972