by Jordan Stocker | May 7, 2025 | Housing News
Today, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) budget proposal. Amid ongoing uncertainty around federal funding, the budget includes funding increases for some housing programs, while others remain level-funded at FY25 levels or received less than proposals in the House budget.
The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program received a significant increase, surpassing the funding levels proposed by both the Governor and the House. Public Housing Operating Subsidies also saw a modest increase. However, several programs received less support than in the House budget. The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) was funded below the House proposal, while Sponsor-Based Permanent Supportive Housing was funded below the increase proposed by the House.Housing Consumer Education Centers and Public Housing Reform were also funded at lower levels than the House. The Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), HomeBASE, and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth programs were level-funded at their FY2025 amounts.
Senators have until Friday afternoon to file amendments, with the full Senate debate set to begin the week of May 12.
An updated tracking grid of CHAPA’s Senate budget priorities is available here ,
by Jordan Stocker | May 1, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
On Wednesday, the Massachusetts House of Representatives voted to approve a $61.5 billion state budget for fiscal year 2026, capping off two and a half days of debate and the adoption of seven consolidated amendment packages. The final vote was 151 to 6, with the budget now heading to the Senate for consideration.
This year saw a near-record number of amendments filed, with more than 1,600 submitted, reflecting strong interest in shaping the budget across many issue areas, including housing. To manage the volume, House leadership grouped amendments by topic into consolidated packages, which are developed internally and voted on as a single block. Housing amendments were included in Consolidated Amendment C, alongside public safety and judiciary items.
The final budget includes several positive housing developments. Just over $1.5 million was added to housing line items through the amendment process, primarily in the form of local earmarks. Highlights include $200,000 in increased funding for Saving Toward Affordable Sustainable Homeownership (STASH) and a $500,000 earmark for the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance (MHSA) to support permanent supportive housing. Harmful amendments that would have weakened or repealed key housing and zoning tools such as the MBTA Communities Act and Chapter 40B were also defeated, preserving critical pathways to build and preserve affordable homes.
At the same time, several high-priority housing proposals were not included at this stage. Amendments to increase funding for crucial programs such as MRVP, AHVP, HCEC, and the Fair Housing Trust Fund had strong support but were left out of the final package.
As the budget moves to the Senate, advocates are calling on lawmakers to take the next opportunity to invest in the tools we know work, including rental assistance, fair housing enforcement, and community-based supports.
The full Consolidated Amendment C can be viewed here.
by Jordan Stocker | Apr 25, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
Amendment #1263, filed by Representative Vanna Howard, would significantly increase funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) in the FY26 state budget. The amendment would raise MRVP funding to $270 million — enough to maintain current rental assistance and create 800 new vouchers for households across the Commonwealth.
Right now, no new MRVP mobile vouchers are being issued due to funding constraints, and more than 168,000 households remain on the waitlist. Strengthening MRVP is essential to meeting urgent housing needs and ensuring that new affordable homes are truly within reach for the lowest-income households.
MRVP helps households avoid housing crises like eviction, exit emergency shelter, and move toward long-term stability with better access to schools, jobs, and healthcare. It offers a sustainable alternative to emergency shelter, saving thousands of dollars each month while supporting stronger futures for all.
You can find more information about the impact of Amendment #1263 in this fact sheet.
Please contact your representative and urge them to co-sponsor Amendment #1263 to expand access to safe, stable, and affordable housing across Massachusetts.
by Jordan Stocker | Apr 23, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
Next week, the House is scheduled to begin debate on the FY26 state budget. Lawmakers filed more than 1,600 amendments to the House Ways and Means proposal — the highest number in over a decade — reflecting the widespread need for support across the Commonwealth. With federal funding uncertain and local communities navigating increasing challenges, these housing amendments offer a meaningful opportunity to respond to needs on the ground.
We’re urging representatives to support the inclusion of CHAPA’s priority housing amendments in the final House budget. The amendments would strengthen rental assistance, support unhoused youth and individuals returning from incarceration, preserve public housing, and address housing discrimination — all essential steps toward greater housing stability across the state. You can find a full list of the amendments below in this fact sheet.
Please contact your representative and ask them to co-sponsor the following amendments:
Rental Assistance
- #1263 – Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) (Rep. Vanna Howard)
Increases funding to $270 million for approximately 800 new vouchers.
- #1402 – Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) (Rep. Rob Consalvo)
Modernizes AHVP to make it easier to use and administer.
- #1 – Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) (Rep. David LeBoeuf)
Improves RAFT by eliminating the requirement for a notice to quit or utility shutoff to access benefits to allow for more upstream access to benefits. Also requires EOHLC to establish criteria for demonstrating that a household is experiencing or is at risk of homelessness.
- #1276 – Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) (Rep. Marjorie Decker)
Improves RAFT by increasing the 12-month benefit cap to $10,000, provides direct payment to tenants of unresponsive landlords, authorizes forward rent payments and stipends, and moves access to benefits more upstream by eliminating requirements for imminent eviction or utility shutoff.
- #435 – HomeBASE (Rep. Christine Barber)
Improves the HomeBASE program by increasing benefit caps for recipients and making it easier for families experiencing housing challenges to access benefits.
- #1509 – Housing Assistance for Re-Entry Transition (Rep. Chyna Tyler)
Increases funding to $5 million for housing assistance for individuals exiting incarceration.
Public Housing
- #731 and #1351 – Public Housing (Reps. Paul McMurtry and David Biele)
Increases funding to $119 million to provide more for the operation and maintenance of the 43,000 homes provided by public housing.
Fair Housing
- #654 and #1256 – Fair Housing Centers (Reps. Patricia Duffy and Christopher Hendricks)
Provides $150,000 for the Massachusetts Fair Housing Center and $75,000 for the South Coast Fair Housing Center to support the vital work of addressing housing discrimination
EOHLC Administration Line
- #1631 – EOHLC Administration (Rep. Chris Markey)
Increase administrative funding for EOHLC to $22.2 million to support the work of the Office in addressing Massachusetts’ housing needs.
Housing Stability
- #1401 – Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs) (Rep. Rob Consalvo)
Restores proposed cuts to HCECs with funding of $8.974 million to provide critical support for people experiencing a range of housing challenges.
- #1649 – Healthy Homes Program (Rep. Shirley Arriaga)
Provides $5 million to address issues such as mold, lead, and asbestos to keep people in their homes and improve the quality of aged housing stock.
- #851 – Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP) (Rep. Andy Vargas)
Provides $42,755 to support TPP and to preserve the line item.
- #1410 – Direct Surplus to Community Preservation Fund (Rep. Kassner)
Dedicates up to $20 million from the FY25 surplus to the state match pool for cities and towns that adopt the Community Preservation Act.
- #285 – First-Time Homebuyer and Foreclosure Prevention (Rep. Samantha Montaño)
Restores funding to $3.05 million to provide a crucial tool that keeps people in their homes when experiencing housing challenges.
- #883 – Department of Mental Health (DMH) Rental Subsidy Program (Rep. Sean Garballey)-Increases the allocation to $21.548 million for housing people experiencing homelessness and disabling mental health conditions.
Homelessness and Supportive Housing
- #368 – Home and Healthy for Good (HHG) (Rep. James Hawkins)
Increase funding for HHG to $8.89 million to address the needs of individuals experiencing homelessness through the successful Housing First model.
- #1221 – Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (Rep. Jim O’Day)
Increases funding to $12 million for housing and services for youth experiencing homelessness.
Homeownership
- #983 – Saving Toward Affordable and Sustainable Homeownership (STASH) (Rep. Christopher Worrell)
Provides $500,000 for STASH to support first-generation homebuyers through matched savings.
Zoning and Planning
- #570 – MBTA Communities (Rep. Brad Jones)
Expands the scope of the MBTA Communities Act to include all cities and towns in Massachusetts.
Thank you for being a partner in the effort to ensure everyone in Massachusetts has a safe and stable place to call home!
by Jordan Stocker | Mar 16, 2025 | Uncategorized
On March 12, CHAPA joined housing advocates, constituents, and nonprofit organizations for Cookie Day, an annual event pushing for increased investment and stability in the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). Led by Mass Alliance of HUD Tenants, the event was organized in partnership with EMPath, 2Life Communities, the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, The Boston Foundation, and many others. It highlighted the urgent need for expanded rental assistance, as MRVP currently supports nearly 11,000 low-income households, yet rising housing costs continue to leave many struggling to afford rent.
Constituents and advocates shared firsthand how MRVP has provided security, opportunity, and a path toward financial independence, while lawmakers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the program. Speakers included Joint Committee on Housing Chairs Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Richard Haggerty, MRVP Codification bill sponsors Rep. Adrian Madaro and Sen. Joan Lovely, and Senator Lydia Edwards, a longtime housing advocate. Edwards, who was recognized for her efforts and honored with the “Big Cookie” award, emphasized the program’s role in preventing displacement and keeping communities strong.
After the speaking program, advocates met with legislators throughout the State House, delivering house-shaped cookies as a reminder of the need for sustained support for the program. Advocates commended legislators for recent increases to MRVP. They also urged lawmakers to allocate $300 million to MRVP in FY26, which would assist approximately 2,300 more low-income households, and to codify the program to ensure long-term certainty for tenants and property owners. Cookie Day reinforced that housing stability through MRVP plays a crucial role in keeping Massachusetts a place where people of all incomes can live and thrive
