Advocates and organizations gather on Beacon Hill for homeless legislative action day

the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless held their annual state house legislative action day and 22 News state house reporter Olivia Ray attended that event and explains what advocates want to see from local lawmakers dozens of activists providers and organizations gathered in the Great Hall of Flags on Monday pushing for resources that prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and resources for those actively experiencing homelessness this legislative session advocates are focusing on a rental assistance homelessness prevention program and eliminating fiscal barriers to getting Massachusetts ID cards as concerns deepen about the impact of federal funding cuts I think given the difficult federal situation that we're in we really are counting on Massachusetts to be the valuesdriven place that we all really expected to be bridge Over Troubled Waters provides resources spanning from rent subsidies to behavioral health counseling to career development for homeless young adults while the organization is based in Boston they welcome young adults from across the state to take advantage of their programs and services any young people in Springfield don't give up on yourself um please keep your head up and call the safe places programs all over the organization's CEO told 22 News that the best thing homeless young adults can do for themselves is ask for help and make use of the available resources advocates pushed for budget funding and state support for individuals of all ages and emphasize the additional challenges facing the very old and the very young working for you from the state house in Boston