New Legislation Promotes Affordable Housing and Access to Supportive Mental Health Services

On August 6, 2024, Governor Maura Healey signed into law the Affordable Homes Act to address the state’s housing challenges. As the most expansive housing bond bill ever filed in Massachusetts, the Act both designates funding for housing programs and includes policy provisions to promote housing production and access.

Among its many provisions, the Affordable Homes Act creates a Supportive Housing Pool Fund, thanks to the leadership and support of the Healey-Driscoll Administration and the Legislature. The Fund will supports the production of permanent supportive housing, a critical component in addressing the complex needs of people with mental health conditions. By providing stable, affordable housing combined with access to supportive services like counseling, case management, and health care, this model creates a foundation for individuals to focus on their overall health and wellbeing.

The stability offered by permanent supportive housing reduces the stress and instability often associated with homelessness, which can exacerbate mental health challenges. This supportive environment not only enhances the quality of life for individuals but also fosters greater community integration and reduces the reliance on emergency services and institutional care. Ultimately, permanent supportive housing represents a holistic strategy that acknowledges and addresses the intersection between stable housing and mental health.

The Act, and the inclusion of the Supportive Housing Pool Fund, represents the collaborative efforts of many people including individuals with lived experience and their families, advocates – such as the Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition and it’s more than 80 cross-sector partners, and political leaders. The bill’s strength comes from the diversity of housing issues it seeks to address and the incorporation of ideas of people working on these issues year after year. The changes this bill will bring will be felt for years to come.