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Bill

SD 3502

An Act creating the engaging neighborhoods, organizations, unions, governments and households fund ("The ENOUGH Act")

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sal DiDomenico and 1 co-sponsor

Creates ENOUGH Fund to empower place-based, cross-sector poverty reduction in distressed MA neighborhoods, funding cradle-to-career supports via grants to community partnerships.

Referred to the committee on Housing
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SD 3502

Summary: ENOUGH Act (SD 3502)

Purpose and intent

  • The ENOUGH Act proposes creating a dedicated fund, the Engaging Neighborhoods, Organizations, Unions, Governments and Households Fund (the ENOUGH Fund), to support place-based, community-driven strategies aimed at reducing poverty and improving outcomes for children and families in distressed Massachusetts neighborhoods.
  • The overarching goal is to align housing and community development investments with a cradle-to-career continuum of education, services, and opportunities, using data-driven, evidence-informed approaches.

Key provisions

Establishment and funding (Section 37)

  • A separate fund is established on the books of the Commonwealth, managed by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC).
  • Financing sources:
    • Appropriations, bond proceeds, or other money designated by the General Court.
    • Funds from public and private sources (gifts, grants, donations).
    • Interest earned on fund money.
  • Fund money is not subject to further appropriation and shall not revert to the General Fund at fiscal year end; it remains available for ENOUGH Fund purposes.

Use of funds

  • The fund supports a grant program to fund community-driven, place-based strategies addressing poverty.
  • Supports for grantees include administration, technical assistance, capacity building, program evaluation, and direct services to grant constituents.
  • Grantees shall receive training on inequities, prioritizing local needs, and data-driven decision making.
  • If funds are insufficient, EOHLC must request additional funding from the House and Senate Ways and Means committees.

Grant program purpose and design (Section 37(c)-(d))

  • Purpose: Reduce concentrated poverty, expand economic opportunity, improve community health and safety, and provide cradle-to-career access to education, training, and care.
  • Focus areas include housing and health care access, disability and welfare system supports, benefits navigation, K-12 support and enrichment, and leveraging diverse funding sources (federal, local, private).
  • Eligible entities must form place-based partnerships in defined geographic areas with a range of partners (nonprofits, higher education, school districts, local government units, neighborhood organizations).

Geographic focus and eligibility (Section 37(d))

  • Partnerships must target areas such as:
    • Communities with more than 20% of children in poverty.
    • Areas with high concentrations of low-income residents.
    • Communities showing signs of distress (poverty, obesity, academic failure, absenteeism, delinquency, etc.).
  • Emphasis on establishing a comprehensive, coordinated continuum of services across multiple sectors.

Grant tracks (Section 37(e))

  • Track 1: One-year partnership development grants — establish governance, convene partners, form shared accountability.
  • Track 2: Two-year plan development grants — asset mapping, needs assessment, resident engagement, action plan development.
  • Track 3: Two-to-four-year implementation grants — implement action plans, leverage additional funding, monitor progress, and sustain community leadership.
  • Extensions: Implementation grants may be extended up to two years beyond the initial cycle if accountability data supports it.

Administration and process (Section 37(f))

  • The EOHHLC, with the ENOUGH Fund advisory committee, must develop a transparent, competitive grant-award process.
  • Annual requests for applications (RFPs) are required and must be widely disseminated, including in multiple languages (text indicates top five spoken languages, though the excerpt is truncated in the provided content).

Who is affected

  • State agencies: Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (administration of the fund and grants).
  • Nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, school districts, local governments, and community-based organizations that form place-based partnerships.
  • Communities defined as distressed or high-poverty areas targeted for investment.

Procedural and timeline notes

  • Status: Referred to the Rules Committee of both chambers, acting concurrently.
  • Introduced: December 24, 2025.
  • Reference: Senate Docket No. 3502; filed December 23, 2025.
  • Note: The text provided includes a truncation in the dissemination requirements; complete language may specify multilingual outreach requirements and other implementation details.

Potential impact

  • Establishes a dedicated funding stream for long-term, place-based poverty reduction efforts.
  • Encourages cross-sector collaboration and data-driven, evidence-based planning and implementation.
  • Aims to create cradle-to-career pathways and improve outcomes in high-need communities through coordinated investments in housing, education, health, and services.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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