Support Key Housing Amendments in the FY26 House Budget
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!