logo
Coalition for Homeless Individuals calls for budget funding

Coalition for Homeless Individuals calls for budget funding

Yahoo27-02-2025

BOSTON (WWLP) – Lawmakers are working on their drafts of the next state budget and the Coalition for Homeless Individuals held a State House Lobby Day to request funding.
The Coalition focuses on the individual homeless shelter system, which functions separately from the family system. Individuals experiencing homelessness are not protected by Massachusetts' right to shelter law.
Area correctional officers learn how to better their facilities at annual conference
Advocates say the system is an effective functional safety net, and consists of emergency shelters, transitional services to rebuild health and work skills, and supportive housing for people who are unable to live independently long-term. Housing Secretary Ed Augustus said that despite the state's effort, homelessness in the Bay State is on the rise.
'I'm very worried given what we're hearing out of Washington, we're going to see more headwinds as we combat homelessness,' Augustus said.
One western Massachusetts provider said resources are stretched especially thin in more rural parts of the state.
'This year, the numbers are out of control. said Jane Banks, Assistant Secretary of Housing and Community Development. 'In Greenfield, we have 45 beds, and we served 74 people for 2,441 bed nights.'
The coalition is requesting $121 million to fund provider programs, and $10 million to help providers with workforce development.
This funding would need to be established in a compromise version of House and Senate budget drafts and approved by Governor Healey to go into effect for next fiscal year.
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Local lawyer discusses California's lawsuit against Trump admin
Local lawyer discusses California's lawsuit against Trump admin

Yahoo

time7 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Local lawyer discusses California's lawsuit against Trump admin

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – 22News is hearing from local lawyers as the state of California sues the trump administration for deploying the National Guard in response to the outbreak of protestors in Los Angeles. ICE raids: What are your rights when approached by an immigration officer? According to Northampton lawyer James Winston, federal law requires the consent of the state before federal troops are deployed. But in this case, there was no consent given by California Governor Gavin Newsom, which would be considered a breach of state sovereignty. Winston told 22News, 'California is filing this lawsuit arguing that Title 10 is not justified because there's no rebellion or threat of law enforcement, that's generally when we see it. This lawsuit could take months to resolve—it really could.' Protests are being sparked in other places of the U.S. in response to the unrest in LA, including right here in the commonwealth. Hundreds are gathering at Boston City Hall to protest ice raids. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Netanyahu's government could collapse over ultra-Orthodox military draft law
Netanyahu's government could collapse over ultra-Orthodox military draft law

Associated Press

time9 hours ago

  • Associated Press

Netanyahu's government could collapse over ultra-Orthodox military draft law

BNEI BARAK, Israel (AP) — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces a vote to dissolve parliament Wednesday and key coalition partners have threatened to bring down his government. Still, few think it's the end of the road for Israel's longest-serving prime minister, who has been battling corruption charges for years, or his far-right government, still in power after presiding over the security failures surrounding the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack. The move to dissolve, called by the opposition, will only pass if Netanyahu's ultra-Orthodox coalition partners break with him over the failure to pass a law exempting their community from military service, an issue that has bitterly divided Israelis, especially during the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip. The threats coming from the ultra-Orthodox could be posturing, and many expect Netanyahu to pull off a last-minute deal. But Wednesday's vote is the most serious challenge to Netanyahu's government since the war began, and the coalition's collapse could have major implications for Israel and the ongoing war. Why do the ultra-Orthodox reject military service? Most Jewish men are required to serve nearly three years of military service followed by years of reserve duty. Jewish women serve two mandatory years. But the politically powerful ultra-Orthodox, who make up roughly 13% of Israeli society, have traditionally received exemptions if they are studying full-time in religious seminaries. The exemptions — and the government stipends many seminary students receive through age 26 — have infuriated the general public. After Hamas' 2023 attack, Israel activated 360,000 reservists, its largest mobilization since the 1973 Mideast war. Israel is engaged in the longest active war in the country's history, which has stretched its robust military to the breaking point. Many reserve soldiers have served multiple rounds of duty in Gaza totaling hundreds of days. Some reserve soldiers are rejecting new call-ups. The number of Israelis continuing to report for reserve duty has dropped so low that the military has taken to social media to try to recruit people to keep serving. The enlistment exemption for the ultra-Orthodox goes back to Israel's 1948 founding, when small numbers of gifted scholars were exempt from the draft in response to the decimation of Jewish scholarship during the Holocaust. But with a push from politically powerful religious parties, the numbers have swelled to tens of thousands today. Israel's Supreme Court said the exemptions were illegal in 2017, but repeated extensions and government delay tactics have prevented a replacement law from being passed. Among Israel's Jewish majority, mandatory military service is largely seen as a melting pot and rite of passage. That's exactly why some ultra-Orthodox don't want their children to serve. 'It mixes together people with very different backgrounds, very different ideas, some people with very immoral ideas,' said Rabbi Ephraim Luft, 66, from the ultra-Orthodox stronghold of Bnei Barak. Luft said the community's dedication to upholding Jewish commandments protects the country as much as military service. 'Over thousands of years, the Jewish people have stood very strongly against any kind of decrees to force them to give up their religion, they've given up their lives for this,' Luft said. 'People have to understand there's no difference between the Spanish Inquisition or the Israeli draft law.' Why would ultra-Orthodox parties want to bring down the government? Two parties belonging to the Haredim, or 'God-fearing' in Hebrew, are essential to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition. Both would need to vote to dissolve the government to force new elections, including Shas, which has traditionally been more supportive of Netanyahu. On Monday, a Shas spokesperson told an ultra-Orthodox radio program the party currently plans to vote in favor of dissolution, unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations. The other party, Degel HaTorah, has been threatening to leave the government since last week. 'Basically, they don't really care about the war and the economic situation of the state and anything else but their communal interest. And the focus of this communal interest is getting the exemption from serving in the army,' said Shuki Friedman, an expert on religion and state affairs and vice president of the Jewish People Policy Institute, a Jerusalem think tank. Friedman and other experts say the current system is unsustainable. With its high birthrate, the ultra-Orthodox are the fastest-growing segment of Israel's population, at about 4% annually. Each year, roughly 13,000 ultra-Orthodox men reach the conscription age of 18, but less than 10% enlist, according to parliament's State Control Committee, which held a hearing examining the issue. The shock of the Oct. 7 attack appeared to ignite some enthusiasm among the ultra-Orthodox to serve, but no large enlistment materialized. The army has repeatedly declined to comment on the ultra-Orthodox enlistment rate. What happens if parliament is dissolved? If the dissolution vote passes, it still faces a series of bureaucratic steps, including additional votes, that the government would likely drag on for weeks or months, said Gayil Talshir, a political science professor at Hebrew University. 'It will be like a gun that's been put into position, but that doesn't mean the coalition is over,' she said. Elections in Israel are currently scheduled for the fall of 2026. Both Talshir and Friedman believe it's unlikely the dissolution vote will pass Wednesday. If one ultra-Orthodox party is absent, the vote will not pass and another cannot be brought for six months, Talshir said. However, there's also a 'valid possibility' the rabbis who advise the ultra-Orthodox parties will say they've waited long enough for a draft exemption law, because they are facing enormous pressure from their communities, Friedman said. The army has issued thousands of draft notices to the ultra-Orthodox community, and those who refuse to serve can face arrest. While only around a dozen have been arrested after being stopped for trying to leave the country or for traffic violations, the fear this has inspired is significant, he added. What impact does this have on the war in Gaza and the hostage crisis? Netanyahu frequently cites the ongoing war as a reason why Israel needs to provide a united front against its enemies. While the ultra-Orthodox parties remain part of the coalition, they want the war to end as quickly as possible, Talshir said. 'The Haredim think once the war is over, the pressure will be off them and they will be able to get their (military) exemption law,' she said.

Health New England to replace Humira coverage with lower-cost biosimilars
Health New England to replace Humira coverage with lower-cost biosimilars

Yahoo

time9 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Health New England to replace Humira coverage with lower-cost biosimilars

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Health New England announced Monday that it will shift coverage of the biologic drug Humira to more affordable FDA-approved biosimilars starting next month for members of its commercial health plans. Markey playing defense against GOP clean energy plans Effective July 1, the not-for-profit health insurer will cover Amjevita by Nuvaila and Hadlima instead of Humira, as part of a broader effort to manage rising health care costs while maintaining access to effective treatments. Humira is used to treat several chronic inflammatory conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and plaque psoriasis. 'Biologic medications like Humira are complex treatments that carry significant cost. Its biosimilars provide a meaningful opportunity to enhance affordability for the health care ecosystem while members continue to get the full benefits of the medication,' said Gary Tereso, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy Services at Health New England. Biologic drugs are made from living organisms and are typically more expensive than other medications. Biosimilars are developed to be nearly identical in safety, potency, and efficacy to the original biologic, but at a significantly lower cost. The shift in coverage is intended to make treatment more accessible and financially sustainable for members and employer groups alike. Health New England is directly reaching out to members who are currently prescribed Humira, along with their health care providers and pharmacies, to assist with the transition. The company said it will continue monitoring the biosimilar marketplace to ensure members receive both high-quality care and cost-effective treatment options. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store