Boston Council reviews FY26 reentry office budget as caseload nears 1,000 annually

BOSTON — May 19, 2025 — Boston City Council reviews FY26 budget for the Office of Returning Citizens as caseload approaches 1,000 clients per year. Committee Chair Brian Worrell convened the Ways and Means hearing Monday, with Chief of Human Services Jose Masso and ORC Executive Director Ashley Montgomery presenting a program that has grown from two employees to 11 and distributed more than $4.6 million to 77 community organizations over three years. ORC has secured 28 housing placements through 50 Boston Housing Authority vouchers, awarded $300,000 in housing support grants to seven organizations, and separately distributed $607,000 to 38 community-based groups through its Returning Citizen Support Grant, now in its third year. A $250,000 participatory budget allocation will fund a youth reentry initiative for individuals ages 14 to 21, with grant applications expected by early summer. Montgomery told council members the office has eliminated its waitlist and can now complete client intake and assign a case manager the same day a returning citizen walks in: "I don't want to be another government agency that's failing them."