EMPath deeply disappointed in legislature’s nine-month cap for families in-shelter

On April 25, 2024, the Massachusetts House of Representatives and Senate passed a spending bill that includes $251 million of funding for the emergency shelter system for FY24, with an additional $175 million to come in FY25. The bill includes a concerning provision that would cap the length of time most people experiencing homelessness can stay in-shelter to just nine months.

In response, Kim Janey, President & CEO of Economic Mobility Pathways (EMPath) – a national nonprofit, based in Boston, dedicated to dramatically improving the lives of people living in poverty – issued the below statement:

“The MA legislature’s new nine-month limit on most shelter stays misses the bigger issue at hand.

“As one of the most trusted providers of emergency shelters for women and children in the state, we at EMPath see firsthand how the lack of access to affordable housing remains the biggest obstacle for families to move into safe, stable housing. In fact, most families in our shelter programs who have found stable housing were not able to do so within nine to 12 months.

“In the short term, it’s critical we see deeper investments from the legislature and the federal government in programs, such as the Mass Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), the HomeBASE program, and RAFT (Rental Assistance for Families in Transition). These programs have a proven track record of successfully helping families to move into stable housing.

“But we can’t stop there. We not only need to ensure families remain housed, but also look at long-term solutions that help families move beyond meeting their basic needs and thrive. At EMPath, our unique economic mobility coaching model provides one-on-one support to families as they work towards their goals and dreams in all areas of their lives. Time and time again, we’ve seen families make remarkable strides – increasing their incomes, earning degrees, saving money, improving their credit scores, reducing debt, and even purchasing their own homes.

“If we want to truly address the shelter crisis, we need to think bigger. Doing so is a win-win for everyone.”