MA S996

Creates a reentry and formerly incarcerated persons program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development, in coordination with the Department of Correction, Office of Probation, and Parole Board, to help incarcerated people understand housing options, find short-term and permanent housing, and receive housing vouchers

Requires annual review and reporting on program implementation, including demographic data of persons served, compliance of state fund beneficiaries, and opportunities for improvement based on feedback from formerly incarcerated individuals and community organizations

Adds housing priority and preference for persons released from correctional facilities within the last 2 years across multiple state housing programs, including public housing, smart growth housing districts, community preservation funds, and housing development projects

Requires the state's Qualified Allocation Plan for Low Income Housing Tax Credits to include a priority and preference category for applications providing reentry housing opportunities

Mandates implementation of emergency housing voucher priority for returning citizens under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (Section 3202 of Public Law 117-7)