#HousingisaHumanRight
#EndHomelessnessMA

Join Us to Protect Families’ Access to Shelter

Since November 2023, Governor Healey and the Legislature have taken steps to reduce access to shelter for children and families experiencing homelessness, moving away from the state's 40-year history of honoring the right to shelter for families. Take action with us to restore the right to shelter and improve access to upstream homelessness prevention resources and long-term deeply affordable housing.

Take Action Today!

Recent and Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities:

Join us in person and online for more actions to protect the right to shelter:

Upcoming Actions:

Check back soon or join our mailing list by clicking here

Recent Actions:

Wednesday, February 12th:
- Please join us in asking State Senators to swiftly provide supplemental funding for Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter and to adopt key budget amendments on access to Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter and temporary respite centers. Learn more about key Senate amendments here: https://tinyurl.com/senate-ea-supp
- Call-in day to State Senators, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
- Visibility action at the State House, 10:30–11:30 a.m. We will meet in front of the Senate Chamber on the 3rd Floor.
- RSVP to let us know you can join us: https://tinyurl.com/ea-event-rsvp

Thursday, February 6th: Visibility action at the State House 10:30–11:30 a.m. to call on the Legislature to swiftly provide needed supplemental funding for shelter and services for children and parents experiencing homelessness and to reject the Governor's proposals to further limit access to Emergency Assistance (EA) shelter. We also will be asking Representatives to cosponsor and actively support key supplemental budget amendments, which are scheduled to be voted on that day.
- Learn more about key House amendments here: https://tinyurl.com/house-ea-supp
Monday, February 3rd–Thursday, February 6th: Call-in days to state legislators, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. each day, asking them to swiftly provide supplemental funding for Emergency Assistance shelter and to reject the Governor's proposals to further limit access to EA.
- Call script and details: https://www.mahomeless.org/_files/ugd/6c63ec_e38e87e26977473cb9f80dddb5ff46bd.pdf
Thursday, January 16th:
- "The People's State of the Commonwealth: Spotlight on Family Homelessness" action: 12:00–1:00 p.m. in front of the Massachusetts State House
- Call-in day to legislators: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
  - Call script and more details
Tuesday, November 12th: Monitoring the next meeting of the state's Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs, 10:00–11:30 a.m. at the Massachusetts State House in Room 157 or on Zoom:
- Agenda, meeting details, and Zoom link
Tuesday, October 15th:
- Monitoring action: 1:00–2:30 p.m. in Room 157 of the State House (or on Zoom) at the next meeting of the state’s Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs
- Visibility action: We will start the hour in front of Governor Healey's office on the third floor and end the hour with a procession past key rooms on that floor, including the House Chamber, Senate Chamber, office of the Senate President, and office of the House Speaker.
Monday, September 16th:
- Rally: 4:30–5:30 p.m. on the Boston Common at the Embrace Memorial and the 1965 Freedom Plaza
  - Guest speakers will include Boston City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune and Reverend Mariama White-Hammond of New Roots AME Church, Dorchester.
  - Directions: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CP2ho4SY5RmZjy6V9
- Monitoring action: 1:00–2:30 p.m. in Room 157 of the State House (or on Zoom) at the next meeting of the state’s Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs
  - Agenda, meeting details, and Zoom link
Thursday, September 5th: State House action, 12:30–1:30 p.m.
- We will start the hour in front of Governor Healey's office on the third floor and end the hour with a procession past key rooms on that floor, including the House Chamber, Senate Chamber, office of the Senate President, and office of the House Speaker.
Tuesday, August 20th: Virtual action hour online, 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Monday, August 19th:
- Visibility action: 12:00–1:00 p.m. in front of the McCormack Building, 1 Ashburton Place, Boston, MA 02108 before the next convening of the Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs
- Monitoring action: 1:00–2:30 p.m. inside the McCormack Building, 1 Ashburton Place, 21st Floor, Boston, MA 02108 (or on Zoom) at the next meeting of the state’s Special Commission on Emergency Housing Assistance Programs
  - Agenda, meeting details, and Zoom link
Wednesday, August 14th: Candlelight vigil in front of the State House, 7:00–8:00 p.m.