Pressure mounting for state czar to oversee teen homelessness
Homeless advocates are backing a call by lawmakers to name a state czar to combat teen homelessness, adding they pushed for such a position as recently as last year.
“That is what we are working on. … The original bill was to create a secretariat,” Rachel Heller, chief executive officer of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association, told the Herald.
Heller said the House and Senate passed a bill last year calling for such a position, but Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed the bill. The legislation called on a czar to build a service delivery system across government departments to support homelessness prevention and provide case management.
Baker did not back the idea of a homelessness czar last night, instead defending steps he’s taken to help the homeless. Baker did add “progress” must be made on teen
homelessness.
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