POLICY FOCUS
We know that to meet the issues on our streets, we need to come down to ground level; and that means a focus on policies. We want to work at the local and the state level to affect change, challenging the outdated and often cruel laws on the books in Massachusetts. It is through laws, statutes, and ordinances that we will fight for justice.
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Scroll down or click below to follow the policy we are currently doing work toward.
"An Act providing a bill of rights for people experiencing homelessness"
S.142 / H.264
This act would provide a person experiencing or perceived to be experiencing homelessness with the right to be free from discrimination on the basis of housing status when it comes to using public spaces, voting, eating, praying, resting and more. Other key provisions include the right to receive equal treatment by all state and municipal agencies; have a reasonable expectation of privacy; interact with public officials, employees, and officers without harassment; rest in public spaces and seek protection; access routine and emergency medical care free from discrimination; and occupy a motor vehicle or a recreational vehicle.
These rights would serve as an affirmative defense to a civil claim or criminal charge related to use of public spaces, and the superior court would have jurisdiction in equity to enforce any right set forth in the bill.
H.264 & S.142 is currently in the joint committee for Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.
“Biden Order for 100% Fed Reimbursement of COVID Hotels”
Presidential Action
On January 21st, President Joe Biden directed the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to completely reimburse cities and states for a slew of emergency services they set up during the pandemic.[1] A memorandum from the White House states “FEMA shall make assistance under this section available at a 100 percent federal cost share until September 30, 2021”.[2] This aid is crucial in that it allows cities to house residents experiencing houseless and those at high risk without putting an additional strain of hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars on already shuttered economies. Just Streets sees this move as a win-win-win: a victory for cities struggling for public health, hotels and private sector businesses straining against a closed economy, and most importantly individuals on the street in need of assistance and safety. The president was authorized to initiate this move without Congressional approval via the Stafford Act[3], and its funding includes not only hotels, but also other expenses the city may incur on behalf of the houseless population.
At Just Streets, we are advocating on behalf of all who stand to benefit from this act to ensure that the generous offer is put to use in the city of Boston and in the Greater Boston Area. In the past, some cities have pushed to move homeless residents out of hotels, citing high costs and low city budgets. We aim to raise awareness of this funding among both governmental bodies and the local population in order to see it taken advantage of. We also hope to work with politicians, city officials, and hotel owners to encourage immediate implementation.
"An Act establishing a special commission to study women and homelessness."
S.82/H.299
This act would establish a special commission that would study women and homelessness. The commission would contain at least six representatives, one for Health Care Without Walls, one for homeless shelters and agencies, one for housing advocacy organizations, one that comes from a service provider that is an expert in health care (disparities, women’s health, and trauma-informed care), one that is an academic researcher in women’s health, and one that is a person who has experienced homeless.
The commission will assess needs for those who are experiencing homelessness and identify as women. It will make recommendations regarding homelessness prevention, improving shelters for women and families, improving permanent housing opportunities, what data to collect and report, and how to ensure women experiencing homelessness have access to a full range of health care and social services.
The commission will report its findings by July 31, 2023.
S.82 was introduced in Jan 2019, the bill was deemed out not to pass in Jan 2021 by the Joint Committee on Families. No action has been taken since then.
H.229 was also introduced in Jan 2019 and reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Families. In April 2020, it was discharged to the committee on House Rules, and no action has been made since then.
"An Act authorizing the city of Boston to fund affordable housing through a fee on certain real estate transfers"
H.2942
This act aims to target housing-based inequality by posing a 2% tax (1% via the seller, 1% via the purchaser) on certain properties valued over $2M. The goal of this tax is to fund the Neighborhood Housing Trust (NHT) which crucially grants developers and projects funding toward affordable housing units, inserting a priority low-income individuals in new urban developments.
"An Act providing for coordinated data and assistance to address family homelessness."
S.110
This act would mandate an annual comprehensive report on housing instability faced by families in the commonwealth to enable the public to gain an informed understanding of the issue and to efficiently predict and better direct homelessness prevention and housing resources. The report would be written cooperatively by the executive office of health and human services, the executive office of housing and economic development, the executive office of labor and workforce development and the executive office of education.
S.110 is currently in the joint committee for Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.