Friday was the deadline for Massachusetts State Representatives to file amendments to the $38 billion state budget crafted by House leaders.
The House leadership cautioned against amendments to increase spending given a large budget deficit the state faces. But, State Rep. Thomas Petrolati of Ludlow said he’ll ask his colleagues to increase state funding for homeless shelters in western Massachusetts.
" Without them, the streets of Springfield, the streets of Ludlow, everywhere in western Massachusetts will see an increase in people out on the streets and that is not what our job is in government," he said.
A budget analysis found that while western Massachusetts has 13 percent of the state’s homeless population, shelters receive just 7 percent of state funding.
House floor debate on the budget begins April 27th
