Supportive-housing advocates push for interagency board, 2,000-unit goal

Advocates and provider coalitions told the Joint Committee on Housing that Massachusetts should create a permanent interagency board to steer financing and development of supportive housing.

What was proposed: H1552 / S991 would establish an interagency supportive housing finance and strategy board to coordinate state agencies, combine financing streams and implement a supportive-housing pipeline. Witnesses said the board would guide use of the supportive housing pool fund created under the Affordable Homes Act and issue joint requests to speed development.

Why it matters: Supportive housing pairs affordable units with intensive, coordinated services for people with complex needs. Will Lehi (United Way of Massachusetts Bay) and Caitlin Golden (Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance) told the committee that a single coordinating body would reduce transactional complexity, lower development costs, and accelerate projects targeted to people exiting homelessness, families with high service needs, and survivors of domestic violence.

Evidence and figures: The bill includes a target to create at least 2,000 supportive housing opportunities using the supportive housing pool fund and other tax-credit resources. Dana Mosh (Massachusetts Association for Mental Health) highlighted a 2020 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation finding that providing permanent supportive housing reduced per-person annual health costs for high-need populations in prior analyses.

Conclusion: Witnesses urged a favorable report for H1552/S991 so state agencies and nonprofit partners can streamline funding and deliver supportive housing more predictably and at scale.