by iwd Tina | May 8, 2024 | Housing News
Last month, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, along with members of the Housing Advisory Council, kicked off a series of listening sessions across Massachusetts to inform the development of a Statewide Housing Plan. To date, EOHLC has held four sessions in Lynn, Springfield, Dartmouth, and Brockton. Between now and June 4, there will be ten more, including two virtual opportunities to provide input.
For a complete list of all the sessions as well as a link to register for specific sessions, click here.
by iwd Tina | May 7, 2024 | Housing News
On Tuesday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released its budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2025. Overall, the bill mostly mirrored the version that passed the House last month – MRVP funding was the same at $219 million ($40 million more than FY 24), RAFT received $197 million ($7.4 million more than FY 24), and HomeBASE came in at $57 million ($20 million more than FY 24).
Encouragingly, Senate Ways and Means proposed $3 million more than the House for the Public Housing Operating line item – $115 million, which is an increase of $8 million from last year.
Still, there remain items of concern. Access to Counsel, which was included for the first time in the House budget with funding of $2.5 million, was absent from the Senate budget. And funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program is $500,000 less than FY 24.
Senators have until the end of this week to file amendments to the Senate Ways and Means Proposal. The full Senate is expected to debate the budget during the week of May 20.
The Building Blocks Committee will meet on Thursday, May 9 at 1pm to discuss priority amendments and advocacy strategy. If you are interested in joining that meeting, click here to register and for the Zoom link.
by iwd Tina | Apr 29, 2024 | Housing News
Last week, the House of Representatives passed its FY 2025 budget. Representatives filed nearly 1500 amendments but less than $110 million in funding above the level proposed by the House Ways and Means Committee was approved.
Although CHAPA’s priority amendments were not included in the final House budget, housing accounts generally fared well considering difficult revenue projections. The final House budget includes:
- A $40 million increase over FY 24 for MRVP (7004-9024)
- A $5 million increase over FY 24 for Public Housing Operations (7004-9005)
- A $20 million increase over FY 24 for HomeBASE (7004-0108)
- A $7 million increase over FY 24 for RAFT (7004-9316)
- Inclusion and funding for an Access to Counsel Program (0321-1800)
Also encouraging was the rejection of three amendments that would have delayed or weakened the MBTA Communities Act. This landmark law paves the way for multifamily zoning in nearly 200 municipalities in proximity to public transportation. CHAPA applauds the House for its continued commitment to this measure that is an important too to address Massachusetts’ current housing challenges.
There is still work to be done, and it was disappointing that the House budget includes $500,000 less for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (7004-9030) as compared to FY 24.
The budget process now moves to the Senate, which is expected to take up its work on the FY 25 spending plan in the next few weeks. Traditionally, that branch completes its consideration before Memorial Day.
by iwd Tina | Apr 23, 2024 | Housing News
Earlier this month, the House Ways and Means Committee released its budget proposal for FY 2025, which begins on July 1, 2024. In the days immediately following that release, representatives submitted 1,495 amendments to that budget. On Wednesday, the House begins its multi-day budget consideration process.
Of those filed, CHAPA has identified ten priority amendments. Please contact your state representative and urge them to support the following:
#26 – Home and Healthy for Good
Sponsored by Rep. Hawkins
Directs $500k to the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance to provide technical assistance and engage in resource development and systems work to advance housing solutions to homelessness.
#563 – Public Housing Operating
Sponsored by Rep. McMurtry
Increases the Public Housing Operating line item by $5 million to $117 million.
#592 – Housing Assistance for People in Reentry
Sponsored by Rep. Gonzalez
Increases funding for the line item by $4.2 million to $9 million.
#613 – Saving Towards Affordable & Sustainable Homeownership Program (STASH)
Sponsored by Rep. Worrell
Provides $750k to support first-time homeownership through the STASH Program.
#667 – Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)
Sponsored by Rep. Consalvo
Increases funding for AHVP by $500k to $16,855,696, restoring the funding to the FY24 amount.
#737 – HomeBASE
Sponsored by Rep. Barber
Adjusts guidelines for HomeBASE to make short-term housing transition benefits available for 12-month renewable allotments to re-housed families, allows for renewals for eligible families beyond 3 years if necessary, eases certain current spending limitations to keep families housed, and continues the prior appropriation.
#790 – Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
Sponsored by Rep. Decker
Adjusts RAFT guidelines by making additional funds available to administrating agencies to resolve housing crises, and eliminates the need for a utility shut-off notice, a notice to quit, or a summary process summons and complaint to access RAFT.
#1101 – Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs)
Sponsored by Rep. Garballey
Increases funding for HCECs by $1.7 million to $10,474,000, restoring the funding to the FY24 amount.
#1461 – Office of Fair Housing
Sponsored by Rep. D. Rogers
Earmarks $1.5 million for the operation of an Office of Fair Housing by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, bringing the line item to $16,856,798.
#1479 – Access to Counsel
Sponsored by Rep. D. Rogers
Amends the Access to Counsel line item to clarify that a pilot program would be state-wide, establishes that legal assistance is full representation (not limited assistance), and authorizes the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation, in consultation with an advisory committee, to determine how to implement the program.
by iwd Tina | Apr 16, 2024 | Housing News
On April 16, the House of Representatives sent the Governor’s Affordable Homes Act (H. 4138) to its third committee since it was filed last October. After moving from the Housing Committee to the Bonding Committee earlier this year, it is now before the House Committee on Ways and Means. While that committee is expected to make significant changes to the legislation (Speaker Mariano has said that he is “going to go big” on housing), timing is to be determined. The House will be taking up the FY2025 budget next week, which requires the full attention of Ways and Means.
