Boston City Council Approves $4.5 Million in Elder-Care Grants, Advances Safety Measures

BOSTON — March 13, 2024 — Boston City Council unanimously approves more than $4.5 million in federal and state grants to fund services for older adults. The ten grants, administered by the Age Strong Commission, cover nutrition deliveries, home-based care, caregiver support, disease prevention, arts programming, and operations at the East Boston Senior Center through September 2024. Councilor Erin J. Murphy, chair of the Committee on Strong Women, Families, and Communities, shepherded all seven committee-reported grants through floor votes after a March 7 hearing with Commissioner Emily Shea. The council also adopted a resolution unanimously — 13 to 0 on a roll-call vote — supporting state legislation to advance health equity, and referred new hearing orders on BPD Crime Lab staffing shortfalls, handicapped parking access for pregnant residents, workforce housing for city employees earning under $30,000 a year, and a citywide strategy for violence prevention following the dismantling of the SOAR street-outreach program. The Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, which faces $20 million in deferred maintenance and remains the only statewide public high school indoor track venue, was the subject of a committee report with the docket held pending further hearings.