The current housing crisis is most acutely felt by the growing number of households experiencing cost burden, housing instability, and homelessness. In 2024, Massachusetts saw the third largest increase in homelessness amongst all states and now has the 5th largest homeless population in the country. As evident by the differing congregate and emergency systems mentioned, individuals and families experiencing housing instability or homelessness are not a monolithic population. Massachusetts has an ecosystem of programs and providers serving these residents, but more is needed to meet the scale and urgency of the need.
A strong safety net prioritizes upstream interventions in a manner that efficiently targets state resources to ensure housing stability. Emergency interventions are costly, and unfortunately necessary, for households that lose their housing or find themselves residing in unsafe settings. Households finding themselves in these situations require a safety net in which flexible funding ensures access to varying wrap-around supportive services in a manner reflective of the intensity of the household’s underlying need. However, this is not achievable without better data collection that integrates often siloed funding streams, and accompanying data, in a manner that identifies those most at risk, coordinates appropriate supportive services, and ensures the efficient use of government resources and the programs they fund. This is not a one-size-fits all approach, but an approach inclusive of an array of appropriate targeted housing, health, socio-economic, and tenancy supports to maximize limited resources. Creating a safety net that is centered by the need for more affordable housing will require the following strategies:
Develop new policies and programs for specific populations through Affordable Homes Act Commissions
Older adults, extremely low-income households, and persons requiring accessible housing have distinct housing needs. Notably, these are populations disproportionally experience housing instability or homelessness and are consumers of multiple services across an ecosystem of agencies and providers. The Affordable Homes Act created commissions to study the needs of these residents and identify actions to expand the availability, affordability, and suitability of homes for these residents. As outlined in statute, these commissions will convene multiple leaders across state agencies, advocacy organizations, and housing and social service providers to evaluate existing funding sources; current as well as future housing demand; recommend future policy and programming to ensure resources can reach more residents in need.
Expand and coordinate provision of services and supportive housing for those most at risk
Persons experiencing housing instability or homelessness often rely on assistance programs across multiple state agencies and provided through a varying array of community-based organizations. Government intervention is most successful when state agencies closely partner to ensure housing, health, educational, vocational, and economic assistance programs are appropriately aligned. This includes integrating varying agency data systems to better understand the correlation between housing, health, educational, and socio-economic outcomes; proactively aligning funding and government program that more efficiently address the varying scale of need across households; and fostering cross-government partnerships to implement new initiatives, such as the supportive housing flex pool, that more effectively targets resources for households that are consumers of services provided across multiple state agencies.
Ensure the Emergency Assistance Shelter System is sustainable, scalable, coordinated, and effective
The Emergency Assistance Shelter System has been under tremendous strain over the past two years due to an extraordinary increase in demand. The Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs identified numerous steps to improve the operation and outcomes of this program. These include reduced reliance on hotels and motels, adoption of a needs-based model for clients, increased focus on diversion and exit strategies, improved data collection, and expanded staff and provider capacity. EOHLC will work with its partners in state government and service providers to implement these recommendations and establish a truly sustainable and effective EA system.
Continue efforts to prevent evictions and foreclosures
Diversion is a key strategy to maintain housing stability, prevent homelessness, and reduce strain on the shelter system. Rental Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) is a key tool to help households address rent backlogs and stay housed. Other efforts include legal support services at housing court. By preventing homelessness and the use of emergency services, these programs can reduce overall costs. EOHLC will continue to evaluate their success and will investigate other interventions to support struggling homeowners and intervene when renters are facing catastrophic rent increases, while also recognizing the financial constraints of small landlords.