Additional Resources for Housing & Shelter Providers

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Articles

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The Lasting Impact of the Pandemic on Homelessness in the U.S.

From Wired: “Experiencing homelessness has always been a dire health risk, and COVID-19 has only worsened that danger. Unhoused people are disproportionately affected by health conditions that can make coronavirus cases more severe, and are often forced to shelter, eat, and access hygiene in congregate settings where social distance is difficult to maintain. Experts knew this from the start, and they have launched heroic efforts to create safe places for unhoused people to shelter and quarantine during the pandemic. Many of those programs, especially those that placed homeless people in empty hotel rooms, have been successful. Now, under the Biden administration, advocates are hopeful that they’ll be able to expand and improve those programs, and treat homelessness as the solvable problem it is.”

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2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1

"From MHSA, 3/19/21: On Thursday HUD released the 2020 Annual Homeless Assessment Report Part 1. The report outlines the key findings of the Point-In-Time (PIT) count and Housing Inventory Count (HIC) conducted in January 2020.

 

From the HUD press release:

 

The report found that 580,466 people experienced homelessness in the United States on a single night in 2020, an increase of 12,751 people, or 2.2 percent, from 2019.

 

The report found that between 2019 and 2020, homelessness increased significantly among unsheltered populations and people experiencing chronic homelessness. Veteran homelessness did not decrease compared with 2019, and homelessness among family households did not decrease for the first time since 2010. The report also found that people of color are significantly over-represented among people experiencing homelessness.

 

Read the full HUD press release.

 

Given that the report is based on January 2020, the report does not reflect any impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Data from the report is available at the state and CoC level here."

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COVID-19 Legislative Updates & Information

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Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless March 30th Legislative Briefing on COVID-19 Housing and Homelessness Issues - Video

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Emergency Assistance Bill:

• Fact sheet: https://mahomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/EA-bill-fact-sheet-3-29-21.pdf

• House Docket 3095 language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/HD3095

• Senate Docket 2155 language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/SD2155

• Organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/ea2122

• Articles of interest:

  • Pediatric Emergency Department Visits for Homelessness After Shelter Eligibility Policy Change: https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/142/5/e20181224

  • Trends in Homeless Children and Young Adults Seeking Shelter in a Boston Pediatric Emergency Department Following State Housing Policy Changes, 2011-2016: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29927643/

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HomeBASE Bill:

• Fact sheet: https://mahomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/HomeBASE-bill-fact-sheet-3-29-21.pdf

• House Docket 1696 language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/HD1696

• Organizational endorsement form: https://tinyurl.com/homebase2122

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COVID-19 Housing Equity Bill:

• Fact sheet: https://www.homesforallmass.org/content/covid-19-housing-equity-bill-fact-sheet.pdf

• House Docket 3030 language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/HD3030

• Senate Docket 1802 language: https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/SD1802

• Organizational endorsement form: https://forms.gle/CWQBgEqMV2AvYnXE9