State Sen. Jamie Eldridge's busy month of February is concluding with an award.

Earlier this week he received the “Big Cookie” award at the annual Homes for Families Advocacy Day at the State House for his efforts to increase funding for supportive housing and end restrictions placed on access to shelter for homeless families across Massachusetts.

“I was deeply humbled to receive this special recognition at the Homes for Families Advocacy Day and take immense pride in continuing to fight for greater access to permanent housing and better services to reduce homelessness,” Eldridge said in a release.

Homes for Families highlighted its Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), the state’s rental assistance program that helps extremely low income households afford market rent on apartments that would otherwise be financially inaccessible to them. Among those who qualify are elders, persons with disabilities and families. The organization requested $60 million in FY14, which would allow the state to provide 1,400 additional vouchers and designate resources toward the state’s supportive housing initiative.

“I believe that state government must continue to offset the extremely high cost of housing and provide more feasible options for affordable housing in Massachusetts by strengthening advocacy organizations like Homes for Families that provide a safety net for at-risk families," he said.

Executive Director of Homes for Families Libby Hayes congratulated Eldridge for his contributions to addressing housing needs in the Commonwealth.

“Sen. Eldridge has been a true champion for homeless families," she said in a release. "He is proactive and works hard for solutions and also understands that solutions cannot come in spite of the safety net. Sen. Eldridge’s forward thinking and responsible approach to reducing homelessness is necessary and appreciated.”

 Eldridge was recently re-appointed as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Housing and served as co-chair of the Asset Development Commission from 2007 to 2009, where he was instrumental in shaping policies to help working families gain assets to live more independent lives and break out of the cycle of poverty.

The giant house-shaped cookie was donated by the Haley House bakery in Roxbury.