This week the Boston City Council adopted a resolution to support House Bill No. 148: An Act Establishing A Livable Home Modification Grant Program. This bill would support individuals who are in need of retrofitting their spaces with accessibility and sensory accommodations so they can remain in their homes longer. Grant recipients would receive a 50 percent reimbursement, up to five thousand dollars, to cover construction costs of necessities, such as zero-step entrances, widened doorways, accessible bathrooms and kitchens, and medical-grade backup generators.
The grant program would help Boston residents who make under 120 percent of the area median area income and those who are not required to file federal taxes. Councilors highlighted that programs, like the one provided for in this bill, expand equity, safety, and the possibilities for individuals interested in aging in their own homes throughout the City.