City Council support of An Act promoting housing stability for older adults across the Commonwealth

How it started

Mar 26, 2026 · Proposed by Councillors Simmons and McGovern: a formal request from the Council to the administration. Joined at the meeting by Councillors Zusy, Nolan, and Flaherty, added from the floor by motion.

What happened

Mar 30, 2026 · ✅ Order adopted as amended (Adopted as amended vv9)

What’s next

⌛ No response on the docket: nothing has been filed back under this request's number. Answers sometimes arrive as other items; this ledger tracks only this one.

The document Agenda item attachment · 2 pages

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The City of Cambridge is committed to advancing housing stability, health equity, and the overall well-being of its residents; and Older adults across the Commonwealth are increasingly at risk of housing instability due to rising costs, fixed incomes, and limited access to supportive housing resources; and

House Bill 4015 and Senate Bill 475, An Act promoting housing stability for older

adults across the Commonwealth, would expand a bridge subsidy program for low- income older adults aged 60 years and older, allowing them to access and maintain stable housing while awaiting long-term rental assistance; and This legislation would provide critical financial support by covering the gap between what older adults can afford and the cost of housing, helping to prevent homelessness and promote dignity and independence among seniors; and The Commonwealth continues to face significant disparities in health outcomes and access to care, particularly among communities of color and underserved populations; and House Bill 1416 and Senate Bill 901, An Act to Advance Health Equity, seek to improve access to quality care, invest in community-based health initiatives, strengthen the healthcare workforce, and enhance accountability in reducing health disparities; and These bills recognize the connection between stable housing and positive health outcomes, and aim to address systemic inequities that impact both; and Supporting these legislative efforts aligns with Cambridge’s longstanding commitment to equity, public health, and housing stability for all residents; now therefore be it RESOLVED: That the City Council go on record in strong support of House Bill 4015, Senate Bill 475, House Bill 1416, and Senate Bill 901; and be it further RESOLVED: That the City Clerk be and hereby is requested to forward suitably engrossed copies of this Order to the Cambridge State Legislative Delegation and to the Governor on behalf of the entire City Council.

In City Council March 30, 2026. Adopted as Amended by

Affirmative Vote of Nine Members:-

Attest:- Paula M. Crane, Interim City Clerk A true copy; ATTEST:- Paula M. Crane

Interim City Clerk

🗓 The meeting where this was taken up: Mar 30, 2026