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Advocates press for statewide ‘bridge subsidy’ to keep older adults housed while they wait for affordable units
Summary
Witnesses from Somerville, Western Massachusetts and elder‑service agencies urged the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence to pass S.475 / H.4015 to expand a bridge subsidy pilot that pays the difference between rent and 30% of income so low‑income older adults can remain housed while awaiting long‑term subsidized housing.
Advocates, municipal officials and providers urged the Joint Committee on Aging and Independence to report S.475 (H.4015) favorably, calling for a statewide expansion of the Somerville pilot that provides short‑term rental assistance to older adults facing imminent displacement.
Speakers described long wait times for affordable and public housing, widely rising rents and cases of seniors living temporarily in cars or shelters. Somerville’s office of housing stability said it received 55 requests in two months from older adults facing imminent displacement; the Somerville pilot administered by Community Action Agency of Somerville (CAS) and other partners used $100,000 in city‑allocated funds and helped nine households avoid eviction, with two moving into permanent affordable housing.
Witnesses from Western Massachusetts organizations, municipal chiefs of staff and elder services described local examples: an 84‑year‑old in Holyoke homeless four years; other seniors evicted or sleeping outside; and the strain on municipal social services. Old Colony Elder Services and Northampton officials provided counts of hotline calls and adult protective services reports tied to housing instability.
Panels stressed program design: eligible older adults (generally 60+) would pay 30% of income toward housing and receive a bridge subsidy to cover the remainder until a long‑term subsidized unit becomes available. Testimony urged forming a steering committee to guide expansion and prioritization rules, and suggested linking municipal housing stability offices, ASAPs and nonprofits. Somerville officials described prioritization practices for emergency cases and said waits for elderly/disabled public housing can be 10 months to years; they emphasized the bridge subsidy covers prospective rent, move costs and short‑term arrears to keep people housed while they wait.
No formal committee action was recorded at the hearing; speakers asked for rapid legislative action to prevent more older adults from entering homelessness.
