Rep. Biele Secures $1.7 Million for Action for Boston Community Development in House Budget
ABCD supports families in South Boston and beyond through Head Start and other programs
BOSTON—During budget debate in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27), State Representative David Biele helped secure state funding to support Action for Boston Community Based Development (ABCD).
Established in 1962, ABCD is Greater Boston’s leading anti-poverty organization, supporting vulnerable individuals and families and equipping them with tools and supports needed to overcome poverty through a comprehensive approach.
For over 50 years, ABCD has helped over 100,000 people each year to obtain tools, support, and resources they need to move from poverty to stability.
Locally, ABCD provides several Head Start programs in South Boston while also providing emergency food assistance to individuals and families and supporting new parents through its Family Nurturing program, an educational workshop series for couples and fathers to learn about healthy child development and important parenting skills.
Since 1973, ABCD’s successful Title X program has responded to vital needs in neighborhoods across Boston and Massachusetts through partnerships with local community health centers, school-based health centers and hospital-based clinics. Through these collaborations, historically high rates of infant mortality and teen pregnancy have been drastically decreased.
Staffed primarily by community health workers, ABCD has built one of the largest, most effective, and lowest-cost-per-patient programs in the country under the umbrella of local health centers, serving over 30,000 residents annually, with a significant percentage of patients below the federal poverty level.
In 2022, ABCD received notice that the Title X program, although viewed favorably, would not be funded. These issues in funding and resources have been brought to light for discussion with state legislators as part of ABCD Legislative Breakfast hosted annually by Rep. Biele as Chair of the Boston Delegation with Assistant Majority Paul Donato of the Mystic Valley Delegation.
In the years since that announcement and following conversations from the annual legislative breakfast, Rep. Biele has filed a budget amendment with Representative Carole Fiola to successfully direct $1.7 million in state funding to ABCD’s successful Title X program to close the gap on the shortdall. This year, the amendment was unanimously adopted in the Massachusetts House of Representatives and included in the House budget for FY27.
“ABCD is deeply grateful to Representative David Biele, a trusted and effective ally to our organization and the communities we serve,” said ABCD President and CEO Sharon Scott-Chandler. “From sponsoring the Family Planning earmark in the FY27 House budget to co-hosting ABCD’s Legislative Breakfast, and countless initiatives through the years, he has shown a serious commitment to listening, responding, and helping advance practical solutions for families across Greater Boston. We look forward to continuing this important work together.”
“Action for Boston Community Development has provided critical care to the most vulnerable families in the City of Boston and throughout Massachusetts for decades,” said Rep. Biele. “I am thankful to Speaker Mariano, Chair Michlewitz, Chair Fiola and my colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives for their support in providing funding and resources which will allow ABCD to continue providing vital services in Boston and beyond.”
ABCD provides a wide variety of resources and services to residents in the Boston and Mystic Valley areas. For more, please visit bostonabcd.org.
