On April 12, the House Committee on Ways and Means released its FY2024 state budget proposal. The $56.2 billion budget includes increased funding for several of CHAPA’s affordable housing priorities, including MRVP, Public Housing, and RAFT.
The budget also proposed re-instating and making permanent tenant protections that pause eviction cases if there is a pending application for emergency rental assistance. The Legislature enacted this protection during the COVID emergency. The protection expired on March 31st. Advocates, along with CHAPA, are advocating for this protection to be restored.
CHAPA thanks Rep. Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways and Means, for his strong support of affordable housing programs.
The House will debate the budget the week of April 24th. Members can file amendments to the budget which are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 14. CHAPA will be working with its partners to support amendments that will make the final House budget the strongest possible for our affordable housing priorities.
The table below highlights funding proposals for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness prevention programs.
| Line-Item | Program | FY2024 Requests | HWM Budget | FY2024 Gov’s Budget | FY2023 Budget |
| 7004-9024 | Mass. Rental Voucher Program | $250,000,000 | $173,247,567† | $168,247,567 | $154,000,000 |
| 7004-9030 | Alternative Housing Voucher Program | $26,000,000 | $14,108,528‡ | $14,108,528 | $13,685,355‡ |
| 7004-9316 | Residential Assistance for Families in Transition | $250,000,000 | $180,602,462 | $162,602,462 | $150,000,000 |
| 7004-9005 | Public Housing Operating | $184,000,000 | $102,000,000 | $92,000,000 | $92,000,000 |
| 7004-3036 | Housing Consumer Education Centers | $10,185,000 | $9,700,000 | $8,774,000 | $9,700,000 |
| 7004-9007 | Public Housing Reform | $7,700,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 7004-0104 | Home & Healthy for Good | $8,390,000 | $8,390,000 | $4,162,300 | $6,390,000 |
| 7004-0108 | HomeBASE | $60,000,000 | $42,070,445 | $42,070,445 | $59,411,201 |
| 7006-0011 | Foreclosure & Housing Counseling | $3,050,000 | $3,050,000 | $1,500,000 | $3,050,000 |
| 7004-3045 | Tenancy Preservation Program | $1,800,000 | $2,042,755 | $2,042,755 | $1,800,000 |
| 4120-4001 | MassAccess Registry | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 4000-0007 | Unaccompanied Homeless Youth | $12,000,000 | $10,545,850 | $10,545,850 | $9,500,000 |
| 7004-0106 | New Lease for Homeless Families | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| NEW | Fair Housing Trust Fund | $1,500,000 | – | – | – |
| NEW | Access to Counsel Program | $7,000,000 | – | – | – |
† Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for MRVP to an estimated $192.2 million
‡ Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for AHVP to an estimated $24 million