Baker-Polito Administration Announces Additional Measures to Protect Acute Care Hospital Capacity

 Baker-Polito Administration Announces Additional Measures to Protect Acute Care Hospital Capacity

 

BOSTON (January 14, 2022) — Today, in response to continuing staffing shortages across the healthcare industry, the Baker-Polito Administration announced several measures intended to ensure acute hospitals can serve those in need of acute care. The Commonwealth’s healthcare system has been facing a critical staffing shortage which has contributed to the loss of approximately 700 medical/surgical and ICU hospital beds since the beginning of 2021. Hospitals are also seeing many more patients than usual, the majority due to non-COVID-19-related reasons.

To assist hospitals amid the staff shortage, the Department of Public Health (DPH) issued orders to: 

• Curtail unnecessary Emergency Department visits for non-emergency services
• Allow qualified physician assistants to practice independently
• Provide greater staffing flexibility for dialysis units
• Allow foreign-trained physicians to qualify for licensure more easily

"Our healthcare system continues to experience significant workforce and capacity constraints due to longer than average hospital stays, separate and apart from the challenges brought on by COVID,” said Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. “Working closely with our hospital leaders, these additional actions by DPH will allow for flexibility to preserve our hospital capacity in the coming weeks.”

DPH has previously updated public health orders and issued advisories to hospitals and other healthcare facilities to alleviate staffing shortages and enhance the capacity of the health care system. These new actions include:

Advisory Curtailing Unnecessary Emergency Department Visits

Emergency Departments across the Commonwealth, like all other healthcare systems, are experiencing significant staff shortages and long wait times for care. In order to ensure critical resources are available for those who are having a medical emergency, individuals should not seek ED care for routine healthcare needs, COVID-19 testing or COVID-19 vaccination. For non-urgent, routine healthcare needs, individuals should contact their primary care providers.

Physician Assistants

Physician Assistants (PA) may practice independently without physician supervision, provided they are employed within a provider setting where PAs work together with physicians to provide patient care and the PA is qualified and practicing within their scope of practice, experience, and training.

 

Moonlighting for resident flexibility

 

Resident physicians can engage in “internal moonlighting,” which will allow flexibility to provide patient care outside of their specialized training program so that they may be redeployed to parts of the health care system with the highest staffing demands.

 

Credentialing: interfacility staff transfer flexibilities

 

Requires DPH-licensed facilities to expedite credentialing and to facilitate staff transfers across and between hospitals and provider systems to best meet patient care and capacity needs.

 

Out-of-hospital dialysis center staffing flexibilities

 

Enables out-of-hospital dialysis providers, including hospitals with outpatient dialysis centers, to relax staffing requirement levels while maintaining safe patient care by following DPH guidance that otherwise ensures that sufficient direct care staff, who are trained in dialysis care, will be available to meet the needs of patients undergoing dialysis.

 

Foreign-trained physician order

 

Enables an expedited licensure of foreign-trained physicians by allowing those with at least 2 years of post-graduate training, but who do not have a Massachusetts limited license, to qualify for licensure. 

 

These actions align with or expand upon emergency public health orders issued since March 2020 to preserve the healthcare system while still providing quality care.

Residents can help these efforts by getting a vaccine and booster, which remains the best way to protect against serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19.

 

These actions are in addition to the deployment of additional Massachusetts National Guard staff posted at acute care hospitals. All updated orders can be viewed here.

波士頓僑教中心 1/15起 進門前須戴口罩秀疫苗證明

               (Boston Orange) 波士頓僑教中心公佈，1月15日起，將比照波士頓市政府關於新冠病毒 (COVID-19)疫情的新規定，進門前須配戴口罩，並出示已接種新冠疫苗證明。

              個別人士到波士頓僑教中心，須戴口罩，出事已打新冠疫苗證明，租用波士頓僑教中心場地的團體，由團體負責人提供「已注射新冠疫苗」聲明。

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES 2022 CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES AND LEGACIES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND CORETTA SCOTT KING

 

MAYOR WU ANNOUNCES 2022 CELEBRATION OF THE LIVES AND LEGACIES OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. AND CORETTA SCOTT KING The City of Boston, Boston University, and the New England Conservatory will continue the tradition of paying tribute to the lives and legacies of Dr. King and Coretta Scott King with a live streamed event.

BOSTON - Friday, January 14, 2021 - Mayor Michelle Wu today announced that, in partnership with Boston University and the New England Conservatory, the City of Boston will present "A Celebration of the Lives and Legacies of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King" on Monday, January 17, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. The event will be live streamed on both boston.gov and bu.edu/dos/kingday2022, as well as on the City of Boston’s cable network (Xfinity: channel 24, RCN: channel 13, and Fios: channel 962.)  "Dr. King, Coretta Scott King, and so many other activists dedicated their lives to fighting poverty, systemic racism, and oppression. Their legacy and impact endures,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “Thank you to Boston University and the New England Conservatory for your partnership in celebrating their lives and for adapting our annual event to allow all Bostonians to safely mark this important day.” This year’s program will include remarks from Mayor Michelle Wu, President of Boston University Robert A. Brown, and President of the New England Conservatory Andrea Kalyn. The program also features: Brianna Bourne, Boston University Arts & Sciences ’24, Boston Latin Academy ‘20 Saida Grundy, Assistant Professor of Sociology, African American Studies, and Women's and Gender Studies at Boston University Katherine Kennedy, Director, Boston University Howard Thurman Center for Common Ground Jean Morrison, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Boston University Jean-Luc Pierite, Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, President of the Board of The North American Indian Center of Boston Kelsey Russell, Boston University Arts & Sciences ‘22 Tanisha Sullivan, President of the NAACP Boston Branch Andrea Taylor, Senior Diversity Officer, Boston University The program will also include musical selections performed by student ensembles and choirs from the New England Conservatory and the Boston University the Inner Strength Gospel Choir “We are pleased to partner with the City of Boston and New England Conservatory to celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King and the enduring work of Coretta Scott King,” said Boston University President Robert A. Brown. “We pause in our busy lives to reflect on Dr. King’s achievement and sacrifice so that we can renew our commitment to do all we can to make our society, our world, just and equitable.” "We are so pleased to join Boston University and the City of Boston in celebrating the work and contributions of Dr. and Mrs. King, and for the opportunity to reflect together on how their leadership inspires and informs our own responsibility to advance equity, justice, and community,” said New England Conservatory President Andrea Kalyn.   In previous years, leaders such as U.S. Representative Ayanna Pressley, Beverly Morgan-Welch, Sonia Sanchez, Dr. Alvin Poussaint, Ernest Green of the Little Rock Nine, Judy Richardson of Eyes on the Prize, and civil rights activist and filmmaker Topper Carew served as keynote speakers. Governor Deval Patrick, Chief Justice Roderick Ireland, Boston Poet Laureates Sam Cornish and Danielle Legros Georges, former Orthopaedic Surgeon-in-Chief at Beth Israel Hospital Dr. Augustus White, and WGBH Radio host Eric Jackson are among those who have served as readers in previous years.

麻州2023年財政預估 369.15億元

 Heffernan, Rodrigues, Michlewitz, Announce Consensus Revenue Forecast of $36.915 Billion for Fiscal Year 2023

Projected state tax revenue growth set at 2.7%

BOSTON — Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan, Senate Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues, and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz today announced a consensus revenue forecast for Fiscal Year 2023 (FY23) of $36.915 billion, representing 2.7% growth in state tax revenue over adjusted Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) projected revenue of $35.948 billion.

The adjusted FY22 revenue collections estimate incorporates a $1.548 billion upgrade of projected state tax revenues announced by Secretary Heffernan today, which is based upon current year-to-date revenues and economic data.

The consensus revenue forecast is the basis on which the Baker-Polito Administration, the House, and the Senate will build their respective FY23 budget recommendations.

Pursuant to Section 5B of Chapter 29 of the General Laws, the three officials above convene every year to establish a joint revenue forecast by January 15th. In addition to conferring with each other, the Secretary and Chairs held a public hearing on December 21, 2021 to receive testimony from the Department of Revenue, the State Treasurer’s Office, and independent, local economists from area foundations and universities on tax revenue.

“The Fiscal Year 2023 consensus revenue forecast aligns with expert testimony delivered in December and acknowledges improved revenue trends in the current fiscal year,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “We thank our colleagues in the House and Senate Ways and Means Offices for their continued partnership as we begin to develop a budget that will maintain fiscal discipline while providing necessary funding to protect essential government services and support key priorities throughout the Commonwealth.”

“The consensus revenue agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 reflects our continued commitment to prioritizing the long-term fiscal health of our Commonwealth as we continue down the road of recovery from this COVID-19 pandemic,” said Senate Committee on Ways and Means Chair Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport). “Thanks to a steady trend of strong tax revenue growth to date, a robust and health rainy day fund, the availability of over $2 billion in American Rescue Plan State Fiscal Recovery funds and continued collaboration with our partners in the Administration and the House, we are well positioned to continue building an equitable recovery. To that end, this agreement lays down the foundation for an impactful Fiscal Year 2023 budget that values the needs of our communities and our most vulnerable populations hardest hit by the pandemic, while ensuring our state remains in sound fiscal health.”

“After some tumultuous budget cycles over the last several years, this consensus revenue agreement for Fiscal Year 2023 is a reasonable and appropriate forecast that will allow the Commonwealth to continue to provide the services our constituents deserve, while at the same time preserving our fiscal health. Despite the pandemic, our revenue intake continues to be better than anticipated, proving the continued resiliency of the Commonwealth’s economy,” said House Committee on Ways and Means Chair Representative Aaron Michlewitz (D-Boston). “I want to thank Chair Rodrigues and Secretary Heffernan for their continued partnership in these challenging times.”

Additional details:

• Of the forecasted $36.915 billion in FY23 state tax revenues, an estimated $2.277 billion is projected to be capital gains tax revenue, of which, per statute, $873 million will be transferred to the Stabilization Fund and other long term liability funds for pension and retiree health insurance costs
• The agreement also includes the following statutorily required off-budget transfers that are mandated by current law:
• $3.744 billion transferred to the pension fund, a $329 million increase over the FY22 contribution, which keeps the Commonwealth on schedule to fully fund its pension liability by 2036
• $1.325 billion for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA)
• $1.165 billion for the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)
• $25 million for the Workforce Training Fund

After $7.132 billion in off-budget transfers, the Secretary and Committee Chairs agree that $29.783 billion will be the maximum amount of tax revenue available for the budget in FY23, absent statutory changes.

M.G.L. Chapter 29 Section 7H ½ requires the Secretary and the House and Senate Committees on Ways and Means to jointly develop a potential gross state product (PGSP) growth benchmark for the ensuing calendar year. The PGSP growth benchmark is used by the Health Policy Commission to establish the Commonwealth’s health care cost growth benchmark. The three bodies have reached an agreement that the PGSP figure for calendar year 2022 will remain 3.6%. PGSP is a measure of the “full employment” output of the Commonwealth’s economy and reflects long-term trends in the economy rather than fluctuations due to the business cycle and, as a result, is meant to be fairly stable from year to year.

Navient 付18.5億元和38州和解 麻州有1500多人免還學生貸款

            (Boston Orange 編譯)涉及38州的 18.5億元和解案，估計麻州有1500名學生貸款申辦者可豁免還款。

                   麻州總檢察官奚莉 (Maura Healey)宣佈，經過38州總檢察官辦公室的努力，被控以不公平，欺騙，掠奪性方式提供學生貸款的Navient同意以18.5億元和解。該公司將支付9500萬元來賠償35萬名聯邦貸款申辦者。這些人選擇以小額月付方式償還貸款，卻因此陷入長年揹債，甚至因而難以購屋、買車，或存退休金的窘境。

Navient還同意在2002年到2014年間申辦，並在2021年6月20日前已遲繳6個月以上的次級貸款，以及其他貸款，可免還款，總額共約17億元。

在這宗和解案中，麻州約可獲得600萬元，其中220萬元賠償8300名聯邦貸款申辦人，另有1523名貸款人可獲得共約410萬元的私人貸款債務減免。

            Navient是一家成立於2014年，總部設在德拉瓦州，主打學生貸款的公司，提供了大約3000億元的學生貸款給1200萬名私人及聯邦貸款者。

            Navient發出一份聲明，申訴自己並未做錯任何事，但為免於法律訴訟的耗資費時，才同意和解。

City of Boston, Funding update

The Funding Update FEDERAL GRANTS National Endowment for the Arts, 2/10/2022 Grants for Arts Projects support various forms of art across the nation, the creation of art, learning in the arts at all stages of life, and the integration of the arts into the fabric of community life. Awards range from $10,000 to $150,000  Environmental Protection Agency, 2/25/2022 Grants will support community and local efforts to monitor their own air quality and to promote air quality monitoring partnerships between communities and tribal, state, and local governments. Small Grants will range from $25,000 to $100,000; Large Grants will range from  $100,001-$500,000. National Endowment for the Arts, 3/10/2022 The Literature Fellowships program offers $25,000 grants in prose (fiction and creative nonfiction) and poetry to published creative writers that enable the recipients to set aside time for writing, research, travel, and general career advancement.  National Endowment for the Arts, 4/10/2022 Challenge America grants ($10,000) support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations. National Endowment for the Humanities, 4/13/2022 Fellowships support individual scholars pursuing projects that embody exceptional humanistic research, rigorous analysis, and clear writing. Awards range from $30,000 to $60,000. Federal funding opportunities are continuously updated here STATE GRANTS Department of Youth Services, 3/1/2022 Seeking proposals from vocational and higher education, unions, businesses, nonprofit and community based organizations for career, technical, workforce training and employment programs and services for DYS youth in residential and community settings. Department of Public Health, through 6/30/2024 BASAS seeks Opioid Treatment Programs, including mobile services. MA Cultural Council, 1/24/2022 Direct grants to artists to recognize exceptional creative work: Artist Fellowships are $15,000, Finalist awards are $5,000.  MA Department of Education, 1/28/2022 Seeking bids to establish and support a statewide Adult Education Virtual School system branded as MassLinks. Contracts will be based on costs per service of $2,800 to $3,500 and may be renewed for up to 2 years. MassDevelopment, 3/18/2022 Collaborative Workspace grants support innovation centers, incubators, makerspaces, artists’ spaces, collaborative kitchens, and coworking spaces to accelerate the pace of new business formation, job formation, and entrepreneurial activity in communities. Fit-out grants: up to $100,000; Seed grants: up to $15,000 for planning. 1. Submit an Expression of Interest form through the One Stop for Growth portal to receive early guidance from program partners. 2. If a municipal support letter is needed, reach out to igr[at]boston[dot]gov with sufficient time to meet the deadline. New This Week: Town of Medway, 2/3/2022 The Medway School Committee and district leadership are seeking a vendor to partner, lead, and engage the district in reflection, analysis, and inquiry to identify opportunities to achieve parity across all student populations, as well as among faculty and staff. Maximum budget: $48,000. City of Chelsea, 2/3/2022 Requests Proposals for project management services for American Rescue Plan Act. Department of Housing & Community Development, 2/8/2022 Community Development Corporations are eligible to apply for an allocation of Community Investment Tax Credits. Program regulations are defined in 760 CMR 68.00. MassDevelopment, Open Commonwealth Places offers Seed Grants ranging from $2,500 to $15,000, and Implementation grants ranging from $5,000 to $50,000. Seed grants must be matched with local funding or in-kind donations. Implementation grants must be matched with crowdfunding donations.Open to both nonprofits and community groups. A municipal letter of support is required in the second stage of the application process. Contact igr[at]boston[dot]gov with sufficient time to meet any deadline imposed by MassDevelopment. UPCOMING: ARPA legislation has been approved by the Governor. Significant funding is allocated for job training, youth violence prevention, economic development and housing. The next step is for state agencies to announce when they will release funding guidelines.  If any applications require municipal letters of support, reach out to igr[at]boston[dot]gov, giving sufficient time to meet deadlines. Check the “Other Resources” column on CommBUYS for Newly Posted Bids. CITY GRANTS Open Bids: Public Facilities Commission/Department of Neighborhood Development, 5/2/2022 The Grassroots Open Space Program makes land and funding available specifically for the development of open space projects such as community gardens, urban farms, food forests, and passive open space. Max award: $100,000. New This Week: Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, 2/1/2022 Requesting proposals from providers to assist small businesses and aspiring small business owners in Boston, with the goal of expanding economic and entrepreneurial opportunity and capacity throughout Boston. Also seeking a firm or consultants who can provide a broad range of technical assistance services to Cannabis Equity applicants. Mayor’s Office of Arts & Culture, 2/11/2022 Requesting qualifications from Workforce and Professional Development Consultants for the Boston Artists in Residency Program. Bids are updated continuously on the City of Boston Supplier Portal. FOUNDATION GRANTS Uber Eats + Visa + LISC, 1/24/2022 Grants of $10,000 will be awarded to 100 Uber Eats member restaurants in need in 10 key markets (including Boston). LISC will select grant recipients, giving weighted preference for women-, veteran-, LGTBQIA-, and BIPOC-owned enterprises. Allowable costs include payroll, vendor expenses, rent and utilities, and upgrading technology infrastructure. National Endowment for the Arts + Arts Midwest, 1/26/2022 The Big Read supports activities that engage an entire community and/or respond creatively to a single book. Grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.   Clif Family Foundation, 2/1, 6/1 and 10/1 - annually Grants support nonprofit grassroots organizations that are working to strengthen our food system, enhance equitable community health outcomes, and safeguard our environment and natural resources. Priority is given to organizations that address two or more of the Foundation's funding priorities, demonstrate strong community ties, and operate within viable and clearly defined plans for positive change.  Snapdragon Book Foundation, 2/13/2022 Grants support school libraries serving disadvantaged children. Awards typically range from $2,500 to $10,000. Kessler Foundation, 2/22/2022 Signature Employment grants support new pilot initiatives, demonstration projects, and social ventures that lead to a generation of new ideas to solve the high unemployment and underemployment of individuals with disabilities. For this grant cycle, the Foundation places a priority on projects that address the intersection of race, class, gender, disability, and poverty within the framework of helping individuals with disabilities obtain employment or re-enter the job market. Max award: $250,000 per year for two years.  Toshiba America, 3/1/2022 Grants (up to $5,000) support increased student success in grades 6 - 12 by introducing creative projects that make STEM learning fun.  Check the Funding Update Archives for back issues with open deadlines. Click here to Subscribe. THE RESOURCE TABLE Donor-Advised Fund Factsheets Courtesy of Schwab Charitable Office of Workforce Development Request for Public Comment Deadline: 1/21/2022 In January 2022, OWD plans to issue an open and competitive Request for Proposals for the FY23 Community Development Block Grant for Public Services. In preparation for the release of the RFP, OWD staff have developed a policy principles document to help guide the selection of CDBG programs for FY23.

Baker-Polito Administration Files $5 Billion General Government Bond Bill

 Baker-Polito Administration Files $5 Billion General Government Bond Bill

 Proposal seeks critical authorization for investments in cybersecurity, public safety, workforce skills

 

BOSTON – The Baker-Polito Administration today filed legislation seeking $4.991 billion in capital funds to support core improvements that will enable the Commonwealth to continue delivering critical state services to the people of Massachusetts. 

 

The proposal, titled An Act Financing the General Governmental Infrastructure of the Commonwealth, includes $4.15 billion to maintain, repair, and modernize assets that serve those most in need across the Commonwealth, help educate the future workforce, deliver on key environmental objectives, and keep the Commonwealth’s communities and workers safe.  It also includes $841 million to continue existing, successful grant programs that support Massachusetts communities, to improve cybersecurity and other technology infrastructure, and to acquire critical public safety equipment.

 

“This bill supports essential capital investments that will deliver long-lasting benefits to Massachusetts residents for years to come, with a focus on safety, resiliency and opportunity,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the Legislature to make these important investments, which will pave the way for the continued efficient delivery of government services and economic growth.”

 

“The proposed investments in this bill continue our Administration’s work to improve a wide range of critical infrastructure and foster growth and development across Massachusetts,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “These funds will ensure the continuity of proven programs and enable impactful future economic, health and safety initiatives that will benefit the Commonwealth’s communities, businesses and residents.”

 

The bill filed today makes authorization available through Fiscal Year 2028 that would support $2.4 billion in existing maintenance and resiliency projects through the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM). DCAMM maintains nearly 1,700 major buildings covering 60.8 million gross square feet of property across the Commonwealth, including higher education buildings, health and human services facilities, public safety facilities, and trial courts. It also leads decarbonization and resiliency efforts in accordance with Executive Order 594, Leading by Example: Decarbonizing and Minimizing Environmental Impacts of State Government, which was issued by Governor Baker in April of 2021 and directs efforts to reduce gas emissions in Massachusetts facilities. The bond bill proposes $400 million in energy efficiency initiatives at facilities statewide. 

 

An additional $1.8 million in DCAMM authorization is proposed to meet new facilities’ needs and mitigate future risks. This includes an increased focus on incorporating lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic related to the physical space and layout of facilities.

 

The bill also proposes $185 million in authorization for the Executive Office of Technology Services and Services (EOTSS) to support a variety of cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and application modernizations initiatives. This includes projects that would modernize the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Online system and build out an integrated eligibility and enrollment system to streamline the benefits application process across multiple state agencies. $50 million is proposed to improve virtual and physical security infrastructure at the Trial Courts facilities, including intrusion detection and video monitoring. Further public safety investments include $60 million for equipment for fire services, corrections, and communications towers, and $100 million for the replacement of approximately 300 Massachusetts State Police vehicles per year, half of which will be hybrid vehicles. 

 

“This $5 billion bond bill reflects the Baker-Polito Administration’s dual commitment to supporting the Commonwealth’s assets and making sustainable, fiscally responsible capital investments,” said Secretary of Administration and Finance Michael J. Heffernan. “The projects proposed are key to maintaining core government operations and will keep the state moving forward, and we are looking forward to working with the Legislature to pass this bill into law.”

 

The bill seeks to support Massachusetts’ communities by authorizing $496 million for established and successful grant and community programs that have a track record of providing valuable resources for workforce development, economic development, housing, and more to communities across the state. This includes the Workforce Skills Capital Grants Program, the Community Compact IT Grants Program, the Cultural Facilities Fund, the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, the Housing Stabilization Fund and the Housing Choice Capital Grants Program.

 

In June 2021, the Baker-Polito Administration finalized its Capital Investment Plan for Fiscal Years 2022-2026, and the authorizations in this bond bill would support investments and initiatives in the upcoming annual update to the Capital Investment Plan, which will include capital spending for Fiscal Years 2023-2027.

 

Highlights of the bond bill include:

 

• $185 million for various cybersecurity and IT infrastructure initiatives, including:
• $100 million for cybersecurity investments and to support existing large business applications modernization projects
• $50 million for virtual and physical security infrastructure at the Trial Courts facilities, such as intrusion detection, duress, physical screening, access control, video monitoring, and communications
• $35 million to upgrade Lottery gaming systems, decommission end-of-life equipment, and address cybersecurity vulnerabilities

 

• $160 million for public safety investments, including:
• $100 million for the replacement of approximately 300+ vehicles per year, half of which will be hybrid
• $60 million for public safety equipment for fire services, corrections, state police & parole vehicles, and communications towers

 

• $100 million to continue support for the Workforce Skills capital grants program, which provides grants to high schools, community colleges, training programs, and non-profit organizations to purchase equipment that will help expand access to career technical education programs 
• $100 million for municipal grants to support a broad range of local infrastructure improvements and projects

 

• $64 million to support the Massachusetts State Revolving Fund (SRF) – specifically, for the Commonwealth’s matching funds required to secure federal dollars for the Fund, which helps cities and towns in improve water supply infrastructure and drinking water safety

 

• $60 million for the Housing Stabilization Fund, which provides funding for municipalities, non-profit, for-profit developers and local housing authorities in support of affordable rental housing production and rehabilitation

 

• $51 million for the continuation of the Food Security program, which improves food security for the people of the Commonwealth through grants aimed at enhancing access to and production of local food for the next two years at current funding level

 

• $50 million for the Cultural Facilities Fund to continue providing grants for planning, acquisition, rehabilitation and construction of cultural facilities administered through Massachusetts Cultural Council and MassDevelopment

 

• $30 million for the Community Compact IT competitive grant program aimed at driving innovation at the local level and available to any municipality that is part of Community Compact Cabinet Initiative 

 

• $25 million for Housing Choice grants to municipalities that receive a Housing Choice designation through high housing production and/or demonstration of best practices

 

• $16 million for MassVentures START grants, which help businesses commercialize ideas that have been backed with federal Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) funding

波士頓市長吳弭匯報美沙酮英里帳篷已清拆 流民均安置

波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu)在松街客棧庭院開記者會，抗議規定打疫苗群眾在牆外
高呼「打疫苗的自由 (Freedom Over Vaccine)」。(周菊子攝)

          (Boston Orange 周菊子綜合報導) 12月16日通知，1月12日154名流民獲得安置，「美沙酮英里」行人道上帳篷清空。波士頓市長吳弭 (Michelle Wu) 圓滿完成了就任市長以來的第一項大考驗。

           儘管12日，13日，14日，仍然有30到50名流民，一小群一小群的散聚在「百福批發總匯 (Food Pak)」座落的南安普頓街 (Southampton)上，但至少是沒有了帳篷。人們也都知道，波士頓市政府要整頓這吸毒者群聚地區，已經說了不下10年，卻一直都沒能改變的情況，也不太可能一下子就消失無蹤。

           但現在警察增加了在這一地區的巡邏，社工也繼續訪視，情況是比去年悄然冒出上百個帳棚好多了。

          波士頓市長吳弭1月13日一早，率同資深顧問Monica Bharel博士，波士頓房屋長Sheila Dillon，波士頓公共衛生局主任Bisola Ojikutu博士，波士頓警察局街道外展主警官Peter Messina，來到松街客棧 (Pine Street Inn)的婦女客棧，和該機構執行長Lyndia Downie，以及波士頓市不分區市議員Erin Murphy，第7區市議員Tania Fernandes Anderson一起，舉行了記者會。

          吳弭說，「這是個轉捩點」。她想強調，在市政府各部門的合作、努力下，她們為流民們提供了庇護所，低門檻的臨時住宅，將來爭取永久住宅的途徑，以及協助他們戒毒，醫療的各種資源，期間沒有人被捕，也沒有人被強迫離開。

          吳弭還仔細的報告，這些流民有40人被轉介到了「勝利項目(Victory )」經營的Envision旅館，21人被轉介到波士頓公共衛生局經營，位於南安普頓街112號的1號宿舍，24人被安置到聖法蘭西斯屋所經營的Wood Mullen庇護所，10人被轉介到麻州護理聯盟，以及Eliot社區人民服務所經營的Shattuck小屋社區，31人被轉介到波士頓醫療中心所經營的圓屋旅館（Roundhouse），28人被轉介到松街客棧在Shattuck的庇護所。

          在去年底時，在南安普頓街，以及Atkinson 街和新市場村一帶，有不下70個帳篷，後來增加到將近100個。

          吳弭表示，清拆帳篷的另一原因是冬天來了，天氣太冷，人們露宿街頭的話，既沒有自來水，也沒暖氣，電燈，衛生條件太糟糕，生命安全可慮。波士頓市政府希望在這臨時做法之後，繼續研議中長期的解決辦法，前一陣子她和市府要員巡視長島，已經確認那兒有很大的地方，樓宇設施可用，只是還得解決交通，醫療諮詢等問題。

          在匯報中，Sheila Dillon表示波士頓市政府正在繼續尋覓低門檻房屋，松街客棧執行長表示該機構正在擴展，將在幾個月內破土動工，打造一批新的收容場所，甚至可為流民們提供永久性居屋。

          波士頓警察證實了在過去這星期內，南安普頓街一帶的流民聚居地，共發現了２具屍體，其中１具為男性成人，案件細節因仍在調查，無法透露。由波士頓第一線工作人員組成的「Live Boston 617」，則在他們自行發表的網上刊物稱，死者之一是一名29歲男生。

MAYOR WU SHARES UPDATE ON WORK TO ADDRESS HUMANITARIAN CRISIS CENTERED AT MASS. AVE. AND MELNEA CASS BOULEVARD Work continues to create medium- and long-term strategies to address crisis

Boston Mayor Michelle Wu gave updates on Mass & Cass. (Photo by Chutze Chou) BOSTON - Thursday, January 13, 2022 - Today, Mayor Michelle Wu hosted a press conference at the Women's Inn at Pine Street in the South End, alongside President and Executive Director at Pine Street Inn Lyndia Downie; Senior Advisor Dr. Monica Bharel; Chief of Housing Sheila Dillon; Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission Dr. Bisola Ojikutu; and BPD Lieutenant Peter Messina of the Street Outreach Unit to give an update on the actions taken to address the humanitarian crisis centered in the area of Mass Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard. By Thursday morning, 154 individuals were referred to low-threshold shelter or housing options and no arrests were made. Following Wednesday’s efforts to place individuals into emergency housing, Mayor Wu is leading the city in creating medium- and long-term actions to address the crisis. “This is a turning point towards creating better resources and pathways to meet the needs of individuals living unsheltered. The encampments posed a serious risk to public health and safety. I am grateful to all of our partners, including our BPHC outreach workers, our Public Works team, the Boston Police Department, and all of our state and provider partners,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “This is an important step as we continue to work together to create medium- and long-term plans to support those experiencing homelessness, substance use disorder or mental health challenges, centered in the Mass. Ave. and Melnea Cass Boulevard area.” The Boston Public Health Commission’s Recovery Services Street Outreach Team engages with individuals on the street on a daily basis. On December 16, the Street Outreach Team notified individuals living in the encampment that no tents would be allowed starting on January 12 and shared that shelter, housing, and treatment resources are available. In addition to the street outreach that the Street Outreach Team leads every day, additional outreach teams (including staff from BPHC’s Homeless Services Bureau, Pine Street Inn, and St. Francis House) increased their street outreach from January 5-January 12. They also accompanied the Inspectional Services Department when notices were posted on January 5 and January 10 to help individuals connect to resources. The outreach teams offered storage bins to all individuals living in the encampment to help with their transition, in partnership with a program run by the Newmarket Business Association. As of January 12, 154 individuals had been referred to the new low-threshold shelter and housing that the City brought online during the housing surge, in collaboration with State partners. This included 40 individuals referred to the Envision Hotel, run by Victory Programs; 21 people referred to Dorm 1 at 112 Southampton Street Shelter, run by Boston Public Health Commission; 24 people referred to Willows at Woods, run by St. Francis House in the Woods Mullen Shelter; 10 people referred to the Cottage Community at the Shattuck, run by Commonwealth Care Alliance and Eliot Community Human Services; 31 people referred to the Roundhouse Hotel, run by Boston Medical Center; and 28 people referred to Pine Street Inn’s shelter at the Shattuck. Across the sites, individuals are provided with wraparound services including connections to medical, mental health and substance use care, housing search and stabilization services, harm reduction services, and recovery coaching.  Recently, Mayor Wu visited Long Island with members of her team to evaluate its potential uses to address intermediate and long-term needs for supportive housing and recovery services. The trip was a part of the administration’s ongoing efforts to audit city-owned properties to identify opportunities to expand long-term and permanent supportive housing, substance use treatment, and other recovery services.