FY21 Equity, Diversity, and Economic Mobility Priorities
The citywide resilience strategy aims to ensure every resident can reach their full potential regardless of their background, and to remove the barriers that hinder Bostonians from having access to opportunities.
In this time of economic uncertainty directly resulting from the devastating Coronavirus, Boston must not deviate from its goal to reduce income inequality and help elevate all of its residents.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Budget
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1 City Hall Square
Room 813Boston, MA 02201-2037
Reallocate Resources to Equity Efforts
As part of a reallocation of existing city resources to equity and inclusion efforts, the following $12,000,000 investments were made:
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$4,000,000 to implement the Racism as a Public Health Crisis executive order and to expand capacity for trauma teams and other counseling services.
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$2,000,000 for housing and homelessness programs.
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$2,000,000 for equitable economic development efforts.
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$2,000,000 for mental health resources to support police officers responding to quality of life calls.
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$500,000 for anti violence efforts.
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$250,000 for youth programming.
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$250,000 for expanded language access.
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$250,000 for the Office of Immigrant Advancement
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$250,000 for Office of Food Access
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$250,000 for the Age Strong Commission
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$250,000 for the Human Rights Commission
INCOME EQUITY and MOBILITY
INCOME EQUITY & MOBILITY
In FY21 Boston will make strategic investments to provide for more income equity and increase economic mobility by:
- Providing $100,000 to secure the Boston Saves bank account program for Boston children.
- Expand childcare entrepreneur fund by $98,000 to expand access to the workforce.
- Increasing financial security for older Bostonians with expanded outreach, which will address the major components of an older adult's budget including housing, healthcare, transportation, and food costs.
- Expand equitable procurement and supplier diversity in the City of Boston.
Providing Equitable ACCESS to EMERGING INDUSTRIES
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The Emerging Industries program will expand with staff and resources to effectively manage and promote equity and inclusion in the cannabis industry.
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$1 million will be appropriated from the Boston Equity Fund to support new equity businesses.
PROTECTING THE VULNERABLE
- Create a new cabinet level position - Chief of Equity
- Reestablish the Human Right Commission
- Expand the Office of Immigrant Advancement
- Expand the Immigrant Defense Fund increasing the City's Commitment from $50,000 to $100,000
- Support Annual Citizenship Day
- Provide funding for the expanded Community Ombudsman Panel that reviews appeals to Boston Police internal investigations.
Providing Equitable Access to City Services
The City knows that everyone needs access to City Services. Any barriers to access should be removed.
- In FY21 an additional $300,000 will be provided to the Office of Neighborhood Services to build additional capacity for the Language and Communication Access department, which works with City departments to provide interpretation, translation, and assistive technology.
- In an effort to reduce food insecurity, the FY21 budget also invests $350,000 in the Office of Food Access for the expansion of the Double Up Food Program, which will lead to the addition of stores in East Boston, Roxbury, Mattapan, and Dorchester and expanded services and staff.
Learn more about the budget
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Still have questions? Contact:
Budget
-
1 City Hall Square
Room 813Boston, MA 02201-2037
