The bill outlines updates to the Emergency Housing Assistance Program, as reported by the Executive Office for Administration and Finance and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Key data points as of September 18, 2025, indicate that there are currently 2,467 families in shelters, hotels, or motels, with 118 families supported across bridge and rapid shelter programs. The report highlights the number of families applying for shelter, those who could not provide required verification, and the various reasons for homelessness, including domestic violence and health and safety risks. Additionally, the report includes information on the number of families receiving assistance, exits from the program, and the average length of stay in shelters.

The bill also introduces new legal language regarding the Emergency Assistance (EA) program, including specific provisions for the number of families certified under G.L. Chapter 23B Section paragraph G, and updates on the fiscal aspects of the program, such as the total estimated cost for FY26 and the average weekly cost per family in the EA shelter program. Furthermore, it mentions efforts to maximize federal reimbursements for costs associated with the EA program, with Massachusetts having collected $148 million in Federal Financial Participation since April 2024.