BOSTON -- The state budget approved by the Legislature includes more than $2.3 million in funding for the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance Inc., $250,000 of which will be used to help homeless young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning.

The money is part of the $41.88 billion budget approved by the Massachusetts Senate and House. It awaits approval from Gov. Charlie Baker.

The budget appropriation supports the Housing and Shelter Alliance's Home and Healthy for Good program. According to the alliance's website, the program "is at the forefront of a significant paradigm shift in how Massachusetts addresses the costly phenomenon of homelessness, particularly for chronically homeless individuals and individuals who represent the highest usage of emergency public services."

"HHG continues to demonstrate that providing housing and supportive services to chronically homeless individuals through a low-threshold, Housing First model is less costly and more effective than managing their homelessness and health problems on the street or in shelter," the website states.

"The Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, Inc. shall be solely responsible for the administration of this program," according to the budget.

The state has charged the Housing and Shelter Alliance with filing a report with state officials "on the number of people served, the average cost per participant, the demographics of those served, whether participants have previously received government services and any projected cost-savings in other state-funded programs."