Jim O’Day was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts and attended Worcester Academy and Worcester State College. Jim graduated with a Bachelor of Science, with a specialization in Urban Studies and Management. After college, Jim served as a social worker for the Department of Social Services (now Department of Children and Families), serving families in central Massachusetts for over twenty-four years. In 2007, Jim ran in a special election for an open seat in the 14th Worcester District (composed of the town of West Boylston and parts of Worcester) in a hotly contested race. He went on to win the election in April 2007 and was sworn into the House of Representatives in May of 2007.
Representative O'Day works closely with numerous agencies to advocate for homeless youth services. He was the lead sponsor of Protecting Homeless Youth, a bill which was successfully signed into law by Governor Patrick. This bill provides housing opportunities and supports to homeless youth ages 24 and under who are outside the care or custody of a parent or legal guardian, and additionally established a special legislative commission of which he is a member.
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Representative O’Day works closely with the Homeless Youth Commission to make strides for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness in Massachusetts. He is a lead sponsor of An Act relative to assisting elders and people with disabilities in the Commonwealth (H.621). This bill would put the recent removal of the Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children (EAEDC) homelessness penalty into law, increase monthly grant levels, provide an annual cost of living adjustment, and increase the program's asset limit from $250 to $2,500.