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H 1570

An Act to promote access to housing and improve educational outcomes

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Chynah Tyler

Creates a five-year pilot in five communities to coordinate housing, education, health and services to stabilize homeless students and work toward functional zero.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means
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Bill Summary · H 1570

Summary of House Bill H.1570: An Act to promote access to housing and improve educational outcomes

Purpose and intent

  • Establishes a pilot program within the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to promote collaborative, cross-sector efforts to reduce student homelessness and improve educational outcomes.
  • Aims to achieve “functional zero” in student homelessness within 5 years and substantially reduce homelessness within 10 years.
  • Builds on models of coordinated public-private-community interventions (notably in Boston) and expands them to five communities statewide, with emphasis on Gateway Cities.

Key provisions

  • New framework and pilot program (Chapter XXX): Creates a dedicated chapter to authorize a five-year pilot across five communities, designed to coordinate housing, education, health, and related services to stabilize homeless students and their families.

  • Community selection and resources (Section 2–3):

    • EOHLC to issue a request for proposals (RFP) for five communities to participate in the pilot.
    • Selected communities receive:
    • MRVP housing vouchers sufficient to annually house up to 10% of currently homeless students and their families, administered by the local housing authority or Metro Housing, and committed to the pilot.
    • Ongoing access to the pilot program and infrastructure support.
    • $500,000 annually for developing and maintaining program infrastructure.
    • Annual adjustment of vouchers and resources based on year-to-year progress.
    • Priority given to Gateway Cities and communities with the greatest need based on DESE homelessness and student outcomes data.

  • Participation criteria (Section 4):

    • Strong multi-agency buy-in: support from the Mayor, School Superintendent, and Housing Department, plus coordination with service providers.
    • Community commits to an annual housing target for currently homeless students and families.
    • Data sharing, regular meetings, and dissemination of lessons learned.
    • Participating students and families must be residents of the community for the duration of the five-year pilot (starting in 2025).

  • Program operations (Sections 5–6):

    • Implemented through contracts with qualified community-based organizations that can act as backbone partners for a public-private-community collaborative.
    • Activities include:
    • Research on replication of successful strategies.
    • Coordinated service delivery to avoid duplication.
    • Resource mapping and needs assessment.
    • Enhancement of a management information system for intake/referral, data sharing, and access to preventive services.
    • Coordination of mini-grants to local agencies.
    • Development of necessary services to support program success.

  • Funding mechanism (Section 7):

    • Establishment of the Access to Coordinated Housing and Education Fund.
    • Funding to sustain the initiative for the immediate budget year and for five years, with appropriate allocation to support the pilot’s operations.

Who is affected

  • Homeless students and their families in participating communities.
  • Local housing authorities/Metro Housing and community-based organizations involved in service delivery.
  • Municipal leaders, school districts, housing departments, and DESE data systems.

Status and timeline

  • Introduced: February 27, 2025.
  • Legislative actions:
    • Referred to Housing (Feb 27, 2025); Senate concurrence noted.
    • Hearing scheduled (July 23, 2025) with date extensions in 2025.
    • Reported favorably by committee and referred to the House Ways and Means (November 5, 2025).
  • Sponsorship: Representative Chynah Tyler (primary). Related HD 3032 replaces this measure.

Additional notes

  • The bill envisions a data-driven, cross-departmental approach to reduce student homelessness and improve educational outcomes through stabilized housing and coordinated supports.
  • If enacted, the pilot would begin with five communities and evolve based on measured progress toward “functional zero” and educational gains.

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

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