In April 2024, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a new law establishing a 9-month limit on a family’s eligibility for emergency assistance (EA) shelter, with opportunities for extensions if they qualify. On June 12th, guidance was issued by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) to establish procedures implementing the 9-month limit on EA eligibility, including criteria that will be used to determine whether a family qualifies for an extension. The State will begin to issue 90 day exit notices starting in July. While most families will have to leave after nine months, the policy allows for multiple 90-day extensions for certain individuals such as veterans, single parents of children with a disability, or people who have made progress toward receiving a permit to work. It also builds in the option for a 120-day hardship waiver. Mass Senior Care continues to collaborate with state officials in efforts to provide employment and housing opportunities for sheltered residents.