A recent State House Policy Briefing was an invitation for us to reflect on the challenges faced by our communities, to highlight some of the work being done to assess the problem in Massachusetts, and to look toward the work that lies ahead. 

As a member of the Special Commission to Study Poverty, United Way of Massachusetts Bay contributed to a report entitled “Pathways to Possibility.” State Senator Sal DiDomenico and State Representative Marjorie Decker hosted a special legislative policy briefing and invited our President and CEO Marty Martinez to share insights on this blueprint for reducing poverty in the Commonwealth.  

“Pathways to Possibility” was based on a comprehensive study done from April of 2024 to June of 2025 and explores the burden of poverty in the Commonwealth. The numbers show the magnitude of poverty in Massachusetts: in 2023, over 10% of residents lived below the Federal Poverty Line.  

But poverty, as the report explains, is a bigger issue than just a measurement below an income threshold: in a state like Massachusetts, the high cost of living means that people who do not meet the official definition of poverty still experience economic hardship. This can force difficult choices between meals or paying bills or weighing earnings against childcare costs.  

And poverty does not affect all people equally in Massachusetts: while the poverty rate for non-Hispanic white residents was 7% in 2023, the poverty rate for Latine residents reached 21%, followed by American Indian/Alaska Native residents (19%) and Black residents (18%). Other factors that affect whether a person experiences poverty include age, gender, immigration status, and geography; and the result of historical policy failures ranging from unequal school funding to redlining. 

Looking toward solutions, United Way of Massachusetts Bay successfully advocated for the report to include proven approaches such as matched savings, baby bonds, guaranteed income, and mitigating cliff effects, all of which are part of our efforts to fight for equity and economic prosperity in our communities.  

Focusing on strategic and long-term solutions, “Pathways to Possibility” made recommendations in four key areas: access to essential support, stability for individuals and families, opportunity for economic mobility, and systems coordination and implementation – all of which United Way of Massachusetts Bay is working with our partners to achieve. 

The report shows what’s possible when we use that muscle and work together to address the root causes of poverty, and we’re looking forward to being a part of shaping what comes next.