Summary: Bill H.1515 - An Act to transform the Commonwealth’s emergency response system and create housing strategies to end the homelessness of unaccompanied adults
Overview
H.1515, introduced February 27, 2025, seeks to overhaul Massachusetts’ emergency housing system and develop housing strategies aimed at ending homelessness among unaccompanied adults. The bill would amend Chapter 23B to establish a framework of definitions for shelter types and to require the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (the executive office) to conduct studies, plan capacity improvements, and develop targeted housing resources. The bill was reported favorably by a committee and referred to House Ways and Means.
Key definitions
The bill adds definitions to clarify shelter models and housing concepts, including:
- Congregate shelter: mass dormitory-style bed spaces without individual rooms with walls and doors.
- Non-congregate shelter: sheltered in an individual or shared bedroom with walls and a door (and preferably a bathroom).
- Permanent supportive housing: ongoing subsidized housing with integrated flexible support services.
- Continuum of care: as defined by federal regulations (34 CFR 578.3).
- Other terms: “Executive office” (as previously defined in state law).
Core provisions and requirements
1) Study of shelter and housing demand (a)
- The executive office, working with municipalities and continuums of care, must conduct an objective and predictive study to determine future shelter and housing demand.
- The study must identify the type and amount of permanent supportive housing, non-congregate, and congregate shelter programs needed to reduce shelter reliance and meet housing demand within one year after the section’s effective date.
- Capacity calculations must be based on each municipality’s population to ensure statewide adequacy.
2) Five-year plan to expand housing capacity (b)
- Develop a plan prioritizing permanent supportive housing and new non-congregate solutions to supplement or replace congregate shelters.
- Target a five-year implementation window to meet unmet affordable housing needs for each municipality, using unit-per-population benchmarks.
- Establish benchmark goals to implement the plan’s recommendations.
3) Inventory and conversion feasibility of congregate shelters (c)
- Create an inventory of existing congregate shelters and determine the cost to the Commonwealth.
- Conduct a feasibility study on converting current congregate resources to non-congregate shelter and/or permanent supportive housing.
- Submit the plan to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Housing and the continuums of care within one year of the section’s effective date.
4) Targeted housing plan for unaccompanied adults (d)
- Develop and provide a detailed plan for housing responses specifically for unaccompanied adults, including long-term vouchers, shallow subsidy pools, rapid re-housing, and permanent supportive housing.
- Prioritize housing resources for elderly, disabled, medically complex, and LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing homelessness.
- Explore alternative construction models (modular, micro-units, repurposed hotels, etc.) to scale affordable homeless housing.
- Submit the plan for developing such housing to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Housing and the continuums of care within one year of the section’s effective date.
Who would be affected
- Unaccompanied adults experiencing homelessness (primary focus for housing strategies).
- Municipalities and continuums of care responsible for planning and implementing shelter/housing solutions.
- The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, which would lead studies, planning, and program design.
- Providers of congregate shelters and potential developers/owners of non-congregate/workforce housing.
Timeline and procedural notes
- Effective date not specified in the summary; actions triggered “one year following the effective date.”
- Within one year: inventory of congregate shelters and feasibility study; submission of plan to chairs.
- Within one year: development of the targeted housing plan for unaccompanied adults.
- Within five years: implementation plan to meet statewide permanent supportive housing capacity based on population/unit benchmarks.
- Legislative actions listed indicate a hearing in July 2025, a reported favorable status, and referral to Ways and Means.
Related context
- Related bill HD 1512 is noted as replacing or superseding related provisions.
- Status as of latest updates: bill reported favorably by committee and referred to House Ways and Means (as of November 6, 2025).
This bill represents a shift toward data-driven capacity planning, modernization of shelter models (with emphasis on non-congregate and permanent supportive housing), and targeted interventions for unaccompanied adults.
