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HD 3694

An Act relative to housing service coordinators

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Kevin Honan

Creates a state-funded program of housing service coordinators to prevent evictions, stabilize housing, and connect residents to education and services.

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Bill Summary · HD 3694

Summary: House Bill HD 3694 — An Act relative to housing service coordinators

Overview and Purpose

HD 3694, introduced in the 2025-2026 Massachusetts General Court, seeks to establish and fund a program of housing service coordinators to support residents in privately owned state- and federally assisted housing. The bill aims to reduce evictions, enhance housing stability, and connect residents with education, job training, and other services to boost economic self-sufficiency. It empowers the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to train, certify eligible agencies, and develop standard outcome measures for evaluating the coordinators’ effectiveness. The program would be created “subject to appropriation,” indicating ongoing funding is required.

Key Provisions

  • Create a program for housing service coordinators (subject to appropriation) to assist residents in privately owned state and federally assisted housing.
  • DHCD responsibilities:
    • Train and certify eligible agencies to provide housing service coordinators.
    • Develop standard outcome measures to assess coordinator activities and impact.
  • Eviction protections tied to coordinator engagement:
    • Property owners participating in the program may not file a summary process eviction against a subsidized tenant unless the owner certifies, on a department-approved form, that the tenant was offered a meeting with the housing service coordinator at least 30 days before filing.
    • An exception applies if there is an immediate threat to health or safety that warrants prompt eviction.
  • Reporting requirements:
    • The DHCD must report quarterly to the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means and the Joint Committee on Housing.
    • Reports cover the number of housing service coordinators, the developments where coordinators operate, and the number of evictions prevented due to coordinator intervention.
  • Regulatory authority:
    • DHCD may promulgate regulations and guidelines to implement the section.

Affected Parties

  • Tenants in privately owned state and federally assisted housing (beneficiaries of the program and eviction protections).
  • Property owners/landlords participating in the program.
  • Housing service coordinators and the agencies that employ or place them.
  • DHCD, which would administer the program and set standards, metrics, and reporting.
  • Massachusetts General Court (via quarterly reporting to the House, Senate, and Housing committees).

Timelines and Procedural Notes

  • Implementation contingent on appropriation; no specific funding amounts listed in the bill.
  • The 30-day prior-meeting requirement applies before filing eviction paperwork (unless immediate threat).
  • Quarterly reporting begins after implementation, with ongoing regulatory development by DHCD.

Takeaway

HD 3694 would establish a state-supported framework for housing service coordinators to prevent evictions, stabilize housing, and connect residents to education and other services. It sets training, certification, and outcome-measure requirements for participating agencies, imposes a 30-day window before eviction filings (absent emergencies), and mandates regular reporting to key legislative committees. Funding and full implementation would depend on appropriations.

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

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