Moving the goal posts on homelessness

[unhappycamper]

2. House speaker scuttles Baker plan on homelessness

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/09/25/house-speaker-scuttles-baker-plan-homelessness/pYAcwdxuIyJ84cgQPjEEHI/story.html



House Speaker Robert DeLeo

House speaker scuttles Baker plan on homelessness
By Joshua Miller Globe Staff September 25, 2015

House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo has essentially scuttled Governor Charlie Baker’s plan to narrow eligibility for homeless families seeking state-funded emergency housing.

DeLeo said in an interview Friday he had spoken with the chairman of the House budget committee, and they both agreed that “narrowing the eligibility requirements was not a good thing” and “would not be in the best interest of the homeless.” He said the provision will not be part of a key bill poised for a vote next week.

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Advocates for homeless families, who had sharply criticized the Baker proposal, immediately celebrated the news.

“We’re really grateful that the Legislature has examined this issue and realized that restricting access to shelter for the most vulnerable families isn’t a way to end homelessness,” said Kelly Turley, director of legislative advocacy at the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless.