Despite its position as a national leader in the innovation economy, Massachusetts is also a leader of a different sort: the expansion of families experiencing homelessness. Since 2007, Massachusetts families have experienced a 191% increase in family homelessness. At a given point in time, (conservative) estimates suggest that ~10,000 children under six experience homelessness, including those in shelter and those doubled up due to economic necessity. With the prevalence of child homelessness and its serious impact on development, Horizons’ housing policy priorities center on measures that directly support housing stability for families facing homelessness.
High housing costs in Massachusetts are a key driver of family homelessness. The statewide average Fair Market Rent for a 2-Bedroom apartment is $2,332 a month. This means that a worker at minimum wage would need to work more than 120 hours a week to afford an apartment large enough to fit a family with children.
To pay no more than 30% of their income on rent, families would need to make at least $45 per hour – even higher in metro Boston. For many families, achieving this level of income is a long-term goal but often unattainable in the short-term. Indeed, over 70% of very low-income households in Massachusetts spend more than 30% of their income on rent. Families burdened by high housing costs often find themselves a small setback away — be it a trip to the hospital or a car accident — from losing their housing and entering shelter.
Early and prolonged homelessness inflicts tremendous stress on young children, and toxic stress in young children negatively impacts brain development. Experiencing homeless while pregnant increases the risk of poor health, developmental delays, and hospitalizations by up to 42%. Infants who are homeless for over six months face a elevated rates of low birthweight, respiratory illness, longer NICU stays, and persistent health challenges through age six. Beyond immediate health impacts, the stress of homelessness leads to triple the risk of behavioral issues in the long run. Homelessness is a generational health risk with enduring developmental and economic consequences for children, families, and communities.
Massachusetts’ patchwork of local zoning rules – single-family only districts, minimum lot sizes, and parking mandates – has inhibited homebuilding for decades. Relaxing restrictive zoning and scaling up multifamily construction can rapidly expand supply, offering at-risk families the stable, secure homes essential for their children’s wellbeing. We applaud the Commonwealth’s $5.2 billion investment through the Affordable Housing Act, but we recognize that such investment must be accompanied by zoning reforms to accelerate production and lower costs.
While Horizons supports and advocates for a variety of housing issues, Horizons has a distinct focus on policies that directly affect housing stability for families experiencing homelessness and those at lower-income levels. The bills we advocate for are separated into two tiers.
Tier 2: Bills on issues of housing, early education, or poverty that affect families facing housing instability. Horizons supports these policies in coalition with other organizations