Overview

The Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) is a non-profit, public policy advocacy organization that seeks to build a society where everyone has access to stable housing and the services they need to thrive. MHSA’s programs primarily serve unaccompanied homeless adults, especially those who have cycled in and out of homelessness for years or live with disabling conditions, including complex medical and behavioral issues that are challenging to manage in the unstable setting of homelessness. In order to service it’s constituents, MHSA needs to secure government support and funding.

Our work

Our team continues to execute policy-related advocacy campaigns that help MHSA meet the needs of these vulnerable individuals and collaborate with state agencies to pilot and scale innovative programs that help people move into permanent housing.  Additionally, we have worked to establish MHSA as a thought leader to help the Legislature and Executive branch examine how public systems — behavioral health, corrections, and more — feed into homelessness.

Results

As a result of our efforts, the FY2021 Supplemental Budget included a new line item devoted to permanent supportive housing for the homeless population. Since then, we have continued to advance MHSA’s public policy priorities in the Massachusetts Legislature.