Housing 

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) 7004-9024 

$300 million to maintain vouchers — and adjust for inflation — and maintain requirement to cap tenant rent share at 30% of income. EMPath also supports bills (Sen Lovely S.1008, Rep Madaro H.1547) to codify and improve the program. 

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) 7004-9316 

$300 million to provide support for back rent and utility payments, first and last month's rent, security deposits, and transportation so that families avoid eviction. EMPath supports bills (Sen. Crighton S.961, Rep. Decker H.1488, Rep. Sousa H.1566) to codify and improve the program. 

HomeBASE 7004-0108 

$80 million to help families with children avoid or exit emergency shelter, including staying at hotels or motels, through stabilization services and up to $50,000 in a 24-month period to pay rent, utilities, security deposits, and other expenses that would allow them to stay in their homes or move out of shelter.  

EMPath supports corresponding bills (Sen. Miranda S.1011, Rep. Barber H.1469) to increase benefit to 25,000 from 15,000 in 12 month increments and bills (Sen. Gomez S.136, Rep. Decker H.216) for the expansion of eligibility and reporting. 

Economic Opportunities 

STASH First-Gen Home New line item 

$4 million to provide $20K grants to 170 qualified first gen homebuyers to cover costs. 

ONE+ 7004-0072 

$12.5 million to continue the program. Additional down payment assistance for MassHousing borrowers: ONE+ is a targeted and cost-effective public/private partnership that uses a small amount of public funding to increase buying power.  

Matched Savings 

A bill (Sen. Eldridge S.737, Rep. Fluker-Reid H.1158) to develop a program in which eligible participants save funds and are matched by the Matched Savings Trust to purchase a home, pursue higher education, etc. 

Baby Bonds 

A bill (State Treas. H.48, Sen Feeney S.2146, Rep. Vargas H.3429) to establish a Baby Bonds Program for children born after July 2026 and receiving benefits within their first year of life. Baby Bond funds may be used to purchase a home, pursue higher education, etc. 

Retirement Savings 

A bill (Sen. Lovely S.1879, Rep. Ferrante H.2825) to create an automatic enrollment program for employee retirement savings via the Office of the Treasury.  

Reparative Justice 

A bill (Rep. Fluker- Reid H.1696) to establish a commission to develop proposals for reparative justice in the commonwealth through a truth and reconciliation process. 

Jobs and Workforce Development 

Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund 1595-1075 

$15 million to fund training opportunities for low-income workers to access jobs leading to economic stability.  

Secure Jobs 4400-1020  

$6 million to help families experiencing homelessness access stable jobs to move closer to economic stability. This initiative bridges the critical gap between housing and workforce development services.  

ABE/ESOL 7035-0002 

$65 million to further Adult Basic Education (ABE) program to instruct academically underprepared and limited English proficient adults. Services include literacy, basic skills, secondary education and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and (Sen. Feeney S.1326, Rep Mendez H.2080) to establish an ESOL for Economic Mobility Coordinator within the Office of Labor and Workforce Development to develop a strategy to prepare limited English language workers to fill in-demand jobs.