City Council - Human Services Committee Hearing on Docket #0285

• Governing Body: Boston City Council Committee on Human Services
• Meeting Type: Committee Hearing
• Docket #0285: Order for a hearing regarding navigating city services for residents with complex family and caregiver needs.
• Date: March 03, 2026
• Time: 10:09 AM
• Chair: Councilor Erin Murphy
• Attendees:
  • Councilor Erin Murphy (Chair)
  • Councilor Edward Flynn (Co-sponsor)
  • Councilor John Fitzgerald
  • Councilor Miniard Culpepper
  • Councilor Ruthzee Louijeune
• Panelists:
  • Jose Masso, Chief of Human Services
  • Kenzie Bock, Administrator, Boston Housing Authority (BHA)
  • Lydia Agro, Deputy Administrator for Resident Programming and Advancement, BHA
  • Christine Trevisoni, Senior Advisor to the Superintendent for Specialized Services, BPS
  • Ines Fusco, Office of Language Access, BPS
  • Elizabeth Aguilar, Senior Director for Resident and Community Affairs, BHA

• Councilor Erin Murphy: Stated that the hearing was inspired by a constituent—a retired firefighter with a son with special needs—who struggled to connect disparate city services. She emphasized the need for a 'central place' or smoother transitions between departments like BPS and BHA to ensure families feel supported.
• Councilor Edward Flynn: Waived his opening statement but emphasized his commitment to equal access for persons with disabilities and seniors throughout the hearing.

Chief Jose Masso provided an overview of the Human Services cabinet, which includes:

1. Boston Public Libraries
2. Boston Centers for Youth and Families (BCYF)
3. Age Strong Commission
4. Veterans Services
5. Office of Returning Citizens
6. Office of Youth Engagement and Advancement

Key Points:

• The cabinet employs 1,000 people across 70 locations.
• The goal is to provide 'seamless' support for complex households by cross-promoting programs across departments.

Administrator Kenzie Bock and Deputy Administrator Lydia Agro detailed the BHA's shift toward a 'people, not buildings' approach.

• Reorganization: BHA created a new vertical for Resident Programming and Advancement to coordinate services that were previously fragmented.
• Economic Mobility:
  • First Home Program: Assisted over 100 BHA residents and voucher holders in becoming first-time homebuyers.
  • Boston Saves: Enrolled nearly 500 children (grades K-5) in savings accounts with up to $550 in seed funding.
  • Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS): Partnered with Compass Working Capital. 185 families graduated with over $1.2 million in escrow; currently, 1,500 families have a combined escrow of $10.2 million.
• Youth and Education:
  • Charlestown Education Center: Provides HiSET, ESOL, and diversion programming for court-involved youth.
  • Franklin Field Youth Center: Reopened with city funding to provide afterschool and workforce programs for youth aged 10-18.
• Elderly Services: Coordination with Age Strong for 'Wellness Connects' programs and coffee hours.

Christine Trevisoni discussed the district's support for students with disabilities and complex needs.

• Transition Planning: By law, transition planning begins at age 14 to prepare students for life after 22, including housing and workforce training.
• Summer Programming:
  • Extended School Year (ESY): Serves 2,500 to 4,000 students based on IEP needs.
  • Fifth Quarter: Provides enrichment and academic maintenance for general and special education students.
• Partnerships: BPS works closely with the City’s Disability Commission and BHA. A recent partnership issued 1,500 vouchers to BPS families.

Accessibility and Infrastructure

• Councilor Flynn inquired about BHA elevator outages and snow removal. Kenzie Bock confirmed there were no unplanned elevator outages and that BHA had proactively cleared private entryways for residents with disabilities during recent storms.

Coordination and Navigation

• Councilor Fitzgerald proposed the idea of a city-wide 'caseworker' or 'life navigator' for complex families. Panelists noted that while BPS Family Liaisons and BHA Resident Service Coordinators perform similar roles, a centralized city resource would require significant additional funding.
• Councilor Louijeune discussed housing as a 'social determinant of health' and urged better coordination with the state and hospitals to fund on-site medical and social programming at BHA elderly/disabled developments.

Youth and Justice Involvement

• Councilor Culpepper asked about support for youth transitioning from the Department of Youth Services (DYS). Lydia Agro explained that the Charlestown Adult Education Center provides intensive support, including court advocacy and warrant clearing, to prevent recidivism.

Ines Fusco from the Office of Language Access highlighted efforts to reach non-English speaking residents:

• Interpretation: Use of 'Isla Pro' devices for instant interpretation in schools and offices.
• Parent Square: A communication platform that allows parents to receive school updates in their preferred language.
• Staffing: BPS has hired three additional Cantonese interpreters to support the Chinatown community and other Cantonese-speaking residents.