Yesterday, Tuesday, May 13, our student loan repayment bill was heard before the Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities at the State House.
Two members of The Caring Force — Jawaan Kellam from The Home for Little Wanderers and Elaina Schreckenberger from Action for Boston Community Development — testified alongside Providers’ Council President & CEO Bill Yelenak. The committee is chaired by Senator Robyn Kennedy and Representative Jay Livingstone.
Their testimonies focused on the urgent need for a student loan repayment program for human services workers.
Elaina Schreckenberger and Jawaan Kellam delivered powerful testimony on the urgent need for student loan repayment for human services workers.
Schreckenberger, who received $30,000 through last year’s ARPA-funded program, emphasized its impact: “It allowed me to remain in the field I love.” Yet, she noted, thousands of qualified applicants were turned away when funds ran out—and she still carries $16,000 in student debt.
Kellam, a therapist with over $93,000 in student loan debt, spoke to the emotional and financial burden shouldered by frontline workers: “We are doing life-changing work while juggling two jobs and struggling to stay afloat. This bill isn’t a handout—it’s a hand up. It tells us: you are seen, valued, and essential.”
Their message to lawmakers was clear: meaningful investment in loan repayment is critical to stabilizing and sustaining the human services workforce.
Yelenak highlighted the overwhelming demand for repayment assistance: Over 3,100 workers applied for ARPA-funded relief, but only 721 received support. With over 160,000 jobs in our sector and wages well below the living wage, student loan debt is a barrier to retention and equity.
We’re grateful to our speakers and supporters who helped elevate this issue. Stay tuned for the next steps for our bill and how you can continue to advocate for this important legislation with us!
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