An Act ensuring fair housing for homeless families

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Ryan Fattman and 1 co-sponsor

MA emergency housing aid limited to U.S. citizens who are residents; non-citizen residents are excluded, overriding other laws to restrict access for homeless families.

Purpose and intent

The bill is titled An Act ensuring fair housing for homeless families and is introduced in the Massachusetts General Court. Its stated aim, by title, is to address fair housing for homeless families.

The substantive change proposed by the bill centers on eligibility rules for an emergency housing assistance program.

Key provisions and changes

Amends the first paragraph of section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws (as it was amended by section 120 of chapter 7 of the acts of 2023).

Adds a new sentence with a non-override provision:

“Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the emergency housing assistance program established herein shall be available only to residents of the commonwealth who are citizens of the United States.”

In effect, this bill would limit eligibility for the emergency housing assistance program to U.S. citizens who are residents of Massachusetts, excluding non-citizen residents (including lawful permanent residents and other eligible non-citizens) from receiving such assistance provided under this program.

Affected parties and scope

Primary impact: homeless families seeking emergency housing assistance in Massachusetts.

Affected groups: non-citizen residents of the Commonwealth (including legal non-citizens) would be excluded from eligibility for the emergency housing assistance program under the act, while U.S. citizens who are residents would remain eligible.

The provision uses a broad override clause (“Notwithstanding any general or special law, rule or regulation to the contrary”) to precede the citizenship-based eligibility limitation, even if other laws would otherwise authorize broader eligibility.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Filing/Introduced: The bill is presented in the Senate as SD 970, with filed date January 15, 2025. Related companion or similar matters have existed in prior sessions (e.g., a similar matter in 2023-2024).

Status: Information provided indicates introduction and filing; no enacted status or final disposition is stated in the available text.

The bill is part of the 2025-2026 session and may proceed through standard legislative processes (committees, potential amendments, votes in both chambers, and onward to the governor) if advanced.

Notes for readers

The central substantive change is a citizenship-based eligibility restriction for the Commonwealth’s emergency housing assistance program.

The bill’s title suggests a focus on fair housing for homeless families, but the enacted provision would be a citizenship requirement that narrows access to emergency housing assistance for non-citizen residents.

Bill