City Council codifies Office of Returning Citizens, citing staff and budget growth

The Boston City Council on Wednesday voted to codify the Office of Returning Citizens into city law, a move supporters said would lock in staff capacity and program funding for reentry services.

Councilor Colette Zapata, chair of the committee on government operations, told the council the office has expanded “from a staff of 2 to a staff of 11” and its annual budget from about $200,000 to roughly $2,500,000, enabling the office to serve “680 active clients” with programs ranging from financial literacy to digital equity. Zapata said the committee’s hearing included testimony from the city’s chief of human services and the office’s executive director, and recommended passage of the ordinance in a new draft to clarify duties and reporting requirements.

Council President Louis Jean urged colleagues to support codification, saying placing the office into law “is making a long term commitment to stronger neighborhoods and communities.” Advocates and councilors described data the office provided at committee: 86 clients placed in permanent employment and 49 clients housed in the last year, and nearly $1,000,000 in renewed grant-making capacity in FY26 to expand employment and housing supports.

The ordinance as amended separates the collection of data from the annual reporting requirement, adds an explicit annual report filing with the city clerk, and adjusts wording to provide the executive director discretion consistent with the city charter. The council accepted the committee report and passed the ordinance by roll-call vote.

The ordinance now moves to any administrative steps required for codification and implementation, including formal publication of the new municipal code language and the office’s requirement to file the mandated annual report.