by iwd Tina | May 25, 2022 | Housing News
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley, the Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA), Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA), Pine Street Inn, Father Bill’s & MainSpring, and Heading Home today announce their support of the Baker-Polito Administration’s proposed new “One Door” pilot program to provide permanent supportive housing to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The organizations praise Governor Baker’s proposal to pilot a new approach that would streamline the funding of permanent supportive housing and enable individuals, families, youth and young adults experiencing homelessness to access safe, stable housing and services more quickly and seamlessly.
On Thursday, May 19, Governor Baker filed a $1.7 billion supplemental Fiscal Year 2022 budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, which included $10 million in funding towards permanent supportive housing operating and service costs for individuals, youth and young adults, and families experiencing homelessness. Research shows that supportive housing is an effective and efficient solution, providing affordable housing and intensive, coordinated services to individuals who are struggling with housing insecurity, employment, financial hardship, substance use disorders, and chronic physical and behavioral health issues.
This new program pilots a strategy that Rep. Joan Meschino, United Way and a broad coalition of 70 housing providers, healthcare institutions, and nonprofit and philanthropic leaders have advocated for over the past year. House Bill 3838 would align existing resources to create a Massachusetts Flexible Housing Pool (MFHP), a nimble pot of public and private funds, and expand supportive housing to enable swift, equitable and targeted deployment of funds to help adults, youth, and families experiencing chronic homelessness.
“Providing permanent supportive housing is necessary as we take a new approach to addressing homelessness in the Commonwealth,” said Representative Joan Meschino (D-Hull). “By blending public and private funding streams together and creating a single, flexible funding source, this bill will offer critical assistance to residents wherever they may fall along a continuum of need.”
In February, the Joint Committee on Housing reported the bill out favorably. The flexible pool of funding proposed by H3838 and the “One Door” model announced by the Commonwealth bundle capital, operating and supportive services funding streams so that the most vulnerable community members receive the housing and services they need, which shifts the burden from providers to pull resources together from multiple sources.
“The implementation of this permanent supportive housing pilot program will help advance a coordinated, comprehensive response to the crisis of homelessness that continues to impact our most vulnerable individuals and families across the Commonwealth,” said Bob Giannino, President and CEO at United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley. “We are so appreciative of the partner organizations that have joined us in advocating for this model and we will continue to push for a sustained flexible funding stream to support continued regional coordination and integrated services for those most in need.”
The FY22 supplemental budget proposed last week by the Governor will now move to the House of Representatives and State Senate for approval. United Way and its partners will also continue to press for passage of H3838, filed for the first time this session and currently before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, to codify and expand the approach of the Commonwealth’s new pilot program.
“MHSA is grateful to the Baker-Polito Administration for this investment in much-needed flexible funding for permanent supportive housing,” said Joe Finn, MHSA President & Executive Director. “The creation of this new permanent supportive housing line item is an incredible step forward in our collective efforts to end homelessness in Massachusetts and would not have been possible without the years of advocacy from MHSA, MHSA member agencies, and the Building a Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition, chaired by United Way, CHAPA, and MHSA. Most importantly, this reflects the dedicated work of provider agencies across the Commonwealth who have demonstrated again and again that low-threshold supportive housing works.”
“Pine Street Inn is grateful to the administration, United Way and MHSA for working to ensure that the ‘support’ in supportive housing is funded,” said Lyndia Downie, President and Executive Director at Pine Street Inn. “It is a recognition that supportive housing is one of the best tools we have to end long-term homelessness. The One Door initiative is a good start to creating long-term, sustainable funding for this essential work.”
“This new strategy creates a more efficient funding process for direct-care housing providers like ours, and we are grateful to everyone who made this pilot program happen,” said John Yazwinski, President & CEO of Father Bill’s & MainSpring (FBMS), which operates more than 600 permanent supportive housing units in Southern Massachusetts. “Looking ahead, the passage of H3838 would serve as a critical long-term investment in the services providing hope and stability to our most vulnerable neighbors.”
“Heading Home is supportive of the One Door pilot approach, a critical first step in ensuring flexible, pooled funding to address programmatic and housing needs of families, individuals, and youth who are homeless,” said Danielle Ferrier, CEO of Heading Home. “It is incredibly encouraging to see this next stage of development of comprehensive, state-wide systems to address this issue and better serve the Commonwealth’s families, individuals and youth experiencing housing insecurity.”
United Way and supportive housing organizations continue to advocate for systems change and innovative solutions to end homelessness and advance long-term housing solutions throughout Massachusetts. The Supportive Housing Coalition, a partnership between United Way, CHAPA and MHSA convenes more than 70 providers, developers, funders, and advocates regularly to develop an expanded focus on system alignment and statewide coordination of homelessness services, collecting and using data to inform decisions in the sector and support policy and advocacy.
The Massachusetts Pay for Success Initiative to Reduce Chronic Homelessness – a partnership between the Commonwealth, MHSA, United Way, and CSH – demonstrated that the supportive housing model works. Over six years, this Pay for Success Initiative served more than 1,000 vulnerable individuals and has demonstrated savings on healthcare costs in the amount of $5,257 per person, per year. Through the program, 84% of individuals experiencing chronic and long-term homelessness who received supportive services and a housing voucher remain housed one year later.
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About MHSA
The Massachusetts Housing & Shelter Alliance (MHSA) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending homelessness in Massachusetts. Through advocacy, collaboration, education, and innovative program development, MHSA focuses on evidence-based solutions that reduce public reliance on emergency resources and prioritize access to stable housing and individualized support services. MHSA draws on the on-the-ground experience of its almost 100 member agencies from across Massachusetts to inform its advocacy and program development. MHSA’s unique position as an intermediary between public agencies and homeless service providers enables it to create solutions to homelessness that have the greatest impact. For more information, please visit www.mhsa.net.
About CHAPA
Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association (CHAPA) is the leading statewide affordable housing policy organization in Massachusetts, bringing together stakeholders from across the housing and community development field to build consensus around solutions. Established in 1967, CHAPA advocates for increased opportunity and expanded access to housing so that every person in Massachusetts can have a safe, healthy, and affordable place to call home. For more information, visit www.chapa.org.
About United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley
United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley is a leading civic engagement organization dedicated to responding to our region’s most pressing issues like housing stability, economic mobility, healthy child development and educational success. We listen and work with communities to identify areas of greatest need and innovative approaches to address them, and then mobilize donors and corporate partners to provide resources to create positive lasting change. We have a vision and a mandate to empower stronger, more equitable communities, and we have the scale and reach to help. Our deep partnerships with hundreds of nonprofit organizations, state and municipal leaders, and businesses make us the region’s go-to mobilizer to address urgent needs and activate comprehensive, long-term solutions. More information is available at www.unitedwaymassbay.org. Follow us @unitedwaymabay and #LiveUnited.
by iwd Tina | May 18, 2022 | Housing News
On May 18, Governor Baker filed a $1.7 billion FY2022 supplemental budget (H.4802). According to the Governor’s press release, the budget contains $310 million for housing development. It proposes $200 million for workforce housing, $100 million for public housing redevelopment in Boston, Cambridge, Salem, and Worcester, and $10 million to increase permanent supportive housing for individuals and families experiencing chronic homelessness.
The bill is supported by state tax revenues that exceed FY22 benchmarks through April by $4.23 billion.
The supplemental budget is now before the House Committee on Ways and Means.
The following is language from the supplemental budget on housing programs:
Workforce Housing
7004-9321 – For grants, loans or other financial assistance to support the production of rental, or for-sale, housing that is affordable for households with incomes between 60% and 120% of area median income; provided, that funds shall be prioritized for projects located in communities in Barnstable, Berkshire, Dukes and Nantucket Counties to support the production of year-round housing units suitable for permanent occupancy by individuals and families challenged to find year-round housing; provided further, that the short-term rental of such year-round housing units produced with this appropriation in the aforementioned counties shall be prohibited; and provided further, that such grants, loans or other financial assistance may be administered through one or both of the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency and the Massachusetts Housing Partnership…..$200,000,000
Public Housing Redevelopment
7004-9323 – For grants to local housing authorities for the redevelopment of public housing; provided, that the grants shall require a local match as determined by the department of housing and community development; provided further, that up to $50,000,000 shall be expended for the Mary Ellen McCormack Public Housing Community in the city of Boston; provided further, that not less than $16,000,000 shall be expended for the Mildred C. Hailey Apartments in the city of Boston; provided further, that not less than $12,500,000 shall be expended for Leefort Terrace in the city of Salem; provided further, that not less than $11,000,000 shall be expended for Jefferson Park in the city of Cambridge; provided further, that not less than $10,500,000 shall be expended for Curtis Apartments in the city of Worcester; provided further, that the department may exempt a recipient of grants from this item from the requirements of chapters 7C and 121B of the General Laws upon a showing by the recipient that such exemptions are necessary to accomplish the effective revitalization of public housing and shall not adversely affect public housing residents or applicants of any income who are otherwise eligible; and provided further, that the department may provide to recipients of grants from this item such additional regulatory relief as may be required to further the objectives of public housing redevelopment, including pursuit of complementary funding sources to ensure preservation as permanently affordable housing……$100,000,000
Supportive Housing
7004-9324 – For a reserve to support the commonwealth’s financing of permanent supportive housing for individuals, youth and young adults, and families experiencing homelessness; provided, that the reserve shall be administered by the Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation; and provided further, that funds shall be expended in the form of grants or loans to permanent supportive housing projects serving the populations identified in this item to cover recurring project operating and service costs……$10,000,000
by iwd Tina | May 11, 2022 | Housing News
On May 10, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means (SWM) released its FY2023 state budget proposal. The budget would provide increased funding for many of CHAPA’s affordable housing priorities, including the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, the Alternative Housing Voucher Program, Public Housing, and RAFT. The Massachusetts Senate will debate its budget proposal in the last week of May.
CHAPA thanks Senate President Spilka, Chairman Rodrigues and members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee for making strong investments in affordable housing priorities!
SWM budget proposal includes $850 million in housing funding. Please refer to the CHAPA Budget Priority chart for funding amounts on affordable housing. Below is the summary of some of CHAPA’s priority programs:
- Mass. Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) – SWM funds MRVP at $154 million ($4 million over the House proposal) along with language to carry forward $21.9 million in unspent funds from FY22 bringing the MRVP total allocation at ~$175 million. SWM also proposes language changes to move MRVP to a payment standard and a few other changes.
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) – SWM funds RAFT at $150 million. This is critical given that the federal funding for rental assistance has almost ended. The increased allocation is in addition to the $100 million allocated for RAFT through the FY2022 Supplemental budget. SWM also includes language to carryover the $60 million carryover from the Supplemental budget bringing the total RAFT allocation to $210 million for FY2023.
- Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) – SWM allocated $13.6 million along with language to carry forward $5.6 million in unspent funds from FY22 bringing the AHVP total allocation to $19.2 million.
- Public Housing – SWM proposes increased funding for Public Housing Operating line item at $92 million.
- HomeBASE – SWM allocates increased funding of $56.9 million for HomeBASE with automatic renewal of benefits up to 2 years.
Full analysis of line-item language.
| Line-Item |
Program |
FY2023 Requests |
SWM
FY2023 Budget |
House
FY2023 Budget |
Gov’s
FY2023 Budget |
FY2022 Budget |
| 7004-9024 |
Mass. Rental Voucher Program |
$200,000,000 |
$175,000,000† |
$171,900,000†† |
$129,981,667* |
$150,000,000 |
| 7004-9030 |
Alternative Housing Voucher Program |
$19,000,000 |
$19,685,355‡ |
$19,285,355‡ |
$8,685,355 |
$14,200,000 |
| 7004-9316 |
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition |
$250,000,000 |
$210,000,000ˇ |
$140,000,000 |
$80,000,000 |
$122,000,000^ |
| 7004-3036 |
Housing Consumer Education Centers |
$8,200,000 |
$8,200,000 |
$9,700,000 |
$8,200,000 |
$8,200,000 |
| 7004-9005 |
Public Housing Operating |
$92,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
$85,000,000 |
$85,000,000 |
| 7004-9007 |
Public Housing Reform |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
| 7004-0104 |
Home & Healthy for Good |
$6,390,000 |
$3,890,000 |
$6,390,000 |
$3,890,000 |
$3,890,000 |
| 7004-0108 |
HomeBASE |
$56,911,201 |
$56,911,200 |
$59,411,201 |
$56,911,201 |
$25,970,612 |
| 7006-0011 |
Foreclosure & Housing Counseling |
$3,050,000 |
$3,050,000 |
$2,850,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$3,050,000 |
| 7004-3045 |
Tenancy Preservation Program |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
| 4120-4001 |
MassAccess Registry |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
| 4000-0007 |
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth |
$10,000,000 |
$8,500,000 |
$8,500,000 |
$8,500,000 |
$8,000,000 |
| 7004-0106 |
New Lease for Homeless Families |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
† Includes $20.7 million in funds carried forward from FY22.
†† Includes $21.9 million in funds carried forward from FY22.
* The Governor stated that his budget would make $145.6 million available for MRVP in FY23. However, the actual appropriation in the line item only provides $130 million. The Governor may be including unspent funds from FY22 that could carry over into FY23 but this language is not included in the line-item.
‡ SWM & the House budget include $5.6 million in funds carried forward from FY22.
ˇ Includes $60 million carried over from the FY22 supplemental budget
^ This number includes the $100 million appropriated to RAFT in FY22 in a supplemental budget.
by iwd Tina | May 11, 2022 | Housing News
This page includes a language analysis of affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and community development programs in Senate Ways & Means FY2023 Budget Proposal. A detailed analysis of budget language is included if the SWM budget makes substantive language changes to the FY2022 final budget language.
| Line-Item |
Program |
FY2023 Requests |
SWM
FY2023 Budget |
House
FY2023 Budget |
Gov’s
FY2023 Budget |
FY2022 Budget |
| 7004-9024 |
Mass. Rental Voucher Program |
$200,000,000 |
$175,000,000† |
$171,900,000†† |
$129,981,667* |
$150,000,000 |
| 7004-9030 |
Alternative Housing Voucher Program |
$19,000,000 |
$19,685,355‡ |
$19,285,355‡ |
$8,685,355 |
$14,200,000 |
| 7004-9316 |
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition |
$250,000,000 |
$210,000,000ˇ |
$140,000,000 |
$80,000,000 |
$122,000,000^ |
| 7004-3036 |
Housing Consumer Education Centers |
$8,200,000 |
$8,200,000 |
$9,700,000 |
$8,200,000 |
$8,200,000 |
| 7004-9005 |
Public Housing Operating |
$92,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
$85,000,000 |
$85,000,000 |
| 7004-9007 |
Public Housing Reform |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
| 7004-0104 |
Home & Healthy for Good |
$6,390,000 |
$3,890,000 |
$6,390,000 |
$3,890,000 |
$3,890,000 |
| 7004-0108 |
HomeBASE |
$56,911,201 |
$56,911,200 |
$59,411,201 |
$56,911,201 |
$25,970,612 |
| 7006-0011 |
Foreclosure & Housing Counseling |
$3,050,000 |
$3,050,000 |
$2,850,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$3,050,000 |
| 7004-3045 |
Tenancy Preservation Program |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
$1,800,000 |
| 4120-4001 |
MassAccess Registry |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
$80,000 |
| 4000-0007 |
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth |
$10,000,000 |
$8,500,000 |
$8,500,000 |
$8,500,000 |
$8,000,000 |
| 7004-0106 |
New Lease for Homeless Families |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
† Includes $20.7 million in funds carried forward from FY22.
†† Includes $21.9 million in funds carried forward from FY22.
* The Governor stated that his budget would make $145.6 million available for MRVP in FY23. However, the actual appropriation in the line item only provides $130 million. The Governor may be including unspent funds from FY22 that could carry over into FY23 but this language is not included in the line-item.
‡ SWM & the House budget include $5.6 million in funds carried forward from FY22.
ˇ Includes $60 million carried over from the FY22 supplemental budget
^ This number includes the $100 million appropriated to RAFT in FY22 in a supplemental budget.
Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (7004-9024)
Description of Changes:
- Sets the tenant rent share between 30% and 40% of monthly adjusted income in the first year of occupancy until the implementation of a payment standard
- Requires the program to use a payment standard between 100% and 110% of the fair market rent starting on January 1, 2023
- For rents that are below the payment standard, sets the minimum amount a tenant must pay to 30% of the household’s income
- Allows households the option to pay more than 40% of their income towards rent after the first year of participating in the program
- Removes language directing funds to be used to support a voucher management system; and
- Adds language allowing unspent funds to be carried over.
Language
For a program of rental assistance for low-income families and elderly persons through mobile and project-based vouchers; provided, that such assistance shall only be paid under the Massachusetts rental voucher program; provided further, that the income of eligible households shall not exceed 80 per cent of the area median income; provided further, that the department of housing and community development may require that not less than 75 per cent of newly issued vouchers be targeted to households whose income at initial occupancy does not exceed 30 per cent of the area median income; provided further, that the department may award mobile vouchers to eligible households currently occupying project-based units that shall expire due to the non-renewal of project-based rental assistance contracts; provided further, that department, as a condition of continued eligibility for vouchers and voucher payments, may require disclosure of social security numbers by participants and members of a participant’s household in the Massachusetts rental voucher program for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments and executive offices; provided further, that if a participant or member of a participant’s household fails to provide a social security number for use in verifying the household’s income and eligibility, then that household shall no longer be eligible for a voucher or to receive benefits from the voucher program; provided further, that until the implementation of a payment standard by the department, each household shall pay not less than 30 per cent of its monthly adjusted income but not more than 40 per cent of its monthly adjusted income for rent at initial occupancy; provided further, that until the implementation of such payment standard, the monthly dollar amount of each voucher shall be the department-approved monthly rent of the unit less the monthly amount paid for rent by the household; provided further, that any household that is proven to have caused intentional damage to its rental unit in an amount exceeding 2 months of rent during any 1-year period shall be terminated from the program; provided further, that if the use of a mobile voucher is or has been discontinued, then the mobile voucher shall be reassigned; provided further, that the department shall pay regional administering agencies not less than $50 per voucher per month for the costs of administering the program; provided further, that subsidies shall not be reduced due to the cost of inspections; provided further, that beginning on January 1, 2023, for newly issued vouchers and at the time of income recertification, relocation and otherwise required interim recalculation for households with existing vouchers, the department shall provide assistance using a payment standard that shall not exceed 110 per cent of the area-wide fair market rental established by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the same size of dwelling unit in the same region and shall be not less than 100 per cent of that area-wide fair market rental, except that a reduction by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development in such fair market rental shall not reduce the payment standard applied to a household continuing to reside in a unit for which the household was receiving assistance at the time the fair market rental was reduced; provided further, that if the rent for the household does not exceed the applicable payment standard, the monthly assistance payment for the household for both project based and tenant-based assistance shall be equal to the amount by which the rent exceeds 30 per cent of the monthly adjusted income for the household except that the household payment in any project based unit that is subsidized under another federal or state subsidy or public housing program shall be subject to applicable limits on tenant paid rent under such federal or state program; provided further, that for a household receiving tenant-based assistance under this section, if the rent exceeds the applicable payment standard, the monthly assistance payment for the household shall be equal to the amount by which the applicable payment standard exceeds 30 per cent of the monthly adjusted income of the household; provided further, that the total amount that the household may be required to pay for rent may not exceed 40 per cent of the monthly adjusted income of the household at the time a household initially receives tenant-based assistance with respect to any dwelling; provided further, that households receiving tenant-based assistance under this section may pay more than 40 per cent of the monthly adjusted income of the household, at their option, provided that this amount may not exceed 40 per cent of the monthly adjusted income of the household in the first year of occupancy; provided further, that the department shall establish the amounts of the mobile and project-based vouchers so that the appropriation in this item shall not be exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the department shall not enter into commitments that shall cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth in this item; provided further, that the department may impose certain obligations for each participant in the Massachusetts rental voucher program through a 12-month contract which shall be executed by the participant and the department; provided further, that such obligations shall include, but shall not be limited to, job training, counseling, household budgeting and education, as defined under regulations promulgated by the department and to the extent said programs are available; provided further, that each participant shall be required to undertake and meet these contractually established obligations as a condition for continued eligibility in said program; provided further, that for continued eligibility, each participant shall execute such 12-month contract not later than September 1, 2022 if said participant’s annual eligibility recertification date occurs between June 30, 2022 and September 1, 2022 and otherwise not later than the annual eligibility recertification date; provided further, that any participant who is over 60 years of age or who is disabled may be exempt from any obligations unsuitable under particular circumstances; provided further, that participating local housing authorities may take all steps necessary to enable them to transfer mobile voucher program participants from the Massachusetts rental voucher program into another housing subsidy program; provided further, that the department’s approved monthly rent limits for mobile vouchers issued or leased on or after July 1, 2022 shall not be less than 100 per cent or exceed to 110 per cent of the area or small area fair market rent based on unit size as established annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided further, that the requested rent level for mobile vouchers shall be determined reasonable by the administering agency; provided further, that for mobile vouchers currently leased, the new rent limit shall not begin until the anniversary date of the lease; provided further, that not later than December 1, 2022 the department of housing and community development shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing on the utilization of rental vouchers during the last 3 fiscal years under this item and item 7004-9030; provided further, that the report shall include, but not be limited to, the: (i) number and average value of rental vouchers currently distributed in the commonwealth in each county and in each municipality; (ii) average number of days that it takes for a household to utilize a voucher after receiving it from the administering agency; (iii) number of households that reach the date by which they must lease up their voucher without having found an available unit; (iv) number of households that apply for an extension by the deadline to lease up their voucher and the number of extensions granted; (v) actions taken by the department to reduce the wait time for households to lease up their voucher; (vi) number of distributed vouchers available to be utilized; (vii) number and type of new vouchers issued after July 1, 2022; (viii) number of families on a waitlist for an available rental voucher; (ix) average number of days that it takes for project based vouchers awarded by the department to be utilized after the award is made; and (x) obstacles faced by the department in its efforts to provide the information detailed in the preceding provisos, if applicable; provided further, that the report shall comply with state and federal privacy standards; and provided further, that the department may expend funds from this item for costs related to the completion of the voucher management system, prior appropriation continued
ALTERNATIVE HOUSING VOUCHER PROGRAM (7004-9030)
Description of Changes:
- Adds language allowing unspent funds to be carried over.
Language
For the rental assistance program established in section 16 of chapter 179 of the acts of 1995; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the rental assistance program shall be in the form of mobile vouchers; provided further, that the vouchers shall be in varying dollar amounts set by the department of housing and community development based on considerations including, but not limited to, household size, composition, household income and geographic location; provided further, that the department’s approved monthly rent limits for vouchers issued or leased after July 1, 2023, shall not be less than 110 per cent of the current area-wide fair market rent based on unit size as established annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided further, that the requested rent level for vouchers shall be determined reasonable by the administering agency; provided further, that for vouchers currently leased, the new rent limit shall not begin until the anniversary date of the lease; provided further, that any household that is proven to have caused intentional damage to its rental unit in an amount exceeding 2 months of rent during any 1-year period shall be terminated from the program; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be no maximum percentage applicable to the amount of income paid for rent by each household holding a mobile voucher; provided further, that each household shall be required to pay not less than 25 per cent of its net income as defined under regulations promulgated by the department for units if payment of utilities is not provided by the unit owner or not less than 30 per cent of its income for units if payment of utilities is provided by the unit owner; provided further, that payments for the rental assistance program may be provided in advance; provided further, that the department of housing and community development shall establish the amounts of the mobile vouchers so that the appropriation in this item is not exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the department shall not enter into commitments which shall cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth in this item; provided further, that the amount of a rental assistance voucher payment for an eligible household shall not exceed the rent less the household’s minimum rent obligation; provided further, that not later than December 15, 2022, the department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing: (i) expenditures from this item; (ii) the number of outstanding rental vouchers; and (iii) the number and types of units leased; provided further, that the word “rent”, as used in this item, shall mean payments to the landlord or owner of a dwelling unit under a lease or other agreement for a tenant’s occupancy of the dwelling unit, but shall not include payments made by the tenant separately for the cost of heat, cooking fuel or electricity, prior appropriation continued
RAFT (7004-9316)
Description of Changes:
- Increases RAFT benefit to $10,000 until June 30, 2023, after which the benefit will drop to $7,000
- De-links RAFT and HomeBASE so that a household could access the maximum of both programs
- Adds language allowing receipt of MassHealth or DTA assistance as eligibility for RAFT for households to demonstrate below 50% AMI income
- Removes language referencing ARPA and other Federal assistance
Language
For a program to provide assistance in addressing obstacles to maintaining or securing housing for families with a household income: (i) not more than 30 per cent of area median income who are homeless and moving into subsidized or private housing or are at risk of becoming homeless; or (ii) more than 30 per cent but not more than 50 per cent of area median income who are homeless and moving into subsidized or private housing or are at risk of becoming homeless due to a significant reduction of income or increased expenses; provided, that assistance shall be administered by the department of housing and community development through contracts with the regional HomeBASE agencies; provided further, that not less than 50 per cent of the funds shall be provided to households with an income not more than 30 per cent of area median income, subject to the department’s discretion based on data reflecting program demand and usage; provided further, that in distributing 50 per cent of the funds, the department shall prioritize those families most likely to otherwise require shelter services under item 7004-0101; provided further, that, from the effective date of this act to June 30, 2023, the amount of financial assistance shall not exceed $10,000 in any 12-month period; provided further, that subsequent to the previous proviso, the amount of financial assistance shall not exceed $7,000 in any 12-month period; provided further, that residential assistance payments may be made through direct vendor payments according to standards to be established by the department; provided further, that the agencies shall establish a system for referring families approved for residential assistance payments, who the agencies determine would benefit from these services, to existing community-based programs that provide additional housing stabilization supports, including assistance in obtaining housing subsidies and locating alternative housing that is safe and affordable for any such families; provided further, that the program shall be administered under guidelines established by the department; provided further, that income verification shall be conducted by using: (a) documentation provided by the household, requiring the same documentation and process used to conduct income verification under this item in fiscal year 2022 or fewer documents as directed by the department; (b) third-party income verification; or (c) validated receipt of certain MassHealth or department of transitional assistance benefits demonstrating that the household earns less than 50 per cent of area median income; provided further, that the manner in which income verification is conducted shall be at the discretion of the department but that the department shall not discontinue the use of said options for income verification listed in the preceding proviso; provided further, that the department shall allow a short, simple application requiring minimal processing time; provided further, that the department shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing the: (1) number of families who applied for assistance; (2) number of families approved for assistance; (3) minimum, median and average amount of financial assistance awarded; (4) total amount of assistance awarded to date, including a breakdown by income category; and (5) number of families falling into each income category; provided further, that the department shall track a family’s reason for assistance by the same categories used in item 7004-0101; provided further, that not less than $3,000,000 shall be expended to provide assistance to households of all sizes and configurations including, but not limited to, elders, persons with disabilities and unaccompanied youths; provided further, that household assistance funds shall be advanced to the administering agencies at the end of each month and prior to the next month’s disbursement, the amount of which shall be estimated based on the prior month’s expenditure with a reconciliation not less than annually; provided further, that notwithstanding clauses (i) and (ii), funds shall be expended to families and individuals who are at risk of injury or harm due to domestic violence in their current housing situation and whose household income is not more than 60 per cent of the area median income; and provided further, that families and individuals that are at risk of injury or harm from domestic violence who meet the qualifications of enrollment in the address confidentiality program shall be afforded the opportunity to register with and become enrolled in the address confidentiality program as offered by the secretary of the commonwealth
Housing Consumer Education Centers (7004-3036)
Description of Changes:
- Removes reporting requirement
Language
For housing services and counseling; provided, that funds shall be expended as grants to 9 regional housing consumer education centers operated by the regional nonprofit housing authorities; provided further, that the grants shall be awarded through a competitive application process under criteria established by the department of housing and community development; and provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be made available to the Regional Housing Network for coordination and information technology.
Public Housing Operating (7004-9005)
Description of Changes:
- Removes preference for elderly receiving rental assistance in public housing
- Removes language prohibiting a housing authority employee from being an elected executive officer in the same municipality
Language
For subsidies to housing authorities and nonprofit organizations, including funds for deficiencies caused by certain reduced rentals in housing for the elderly, handicapped, veterans and relocated persons under sections 32 and 40 of chapter 121B of the General Laws; provided, that the department of housing and community development may expend funds appropriated under this item for deficiencies caused by certain reduced rentals which may be anticipated in the operation of housing authorities for the first quarter of the subsequent fiscal year; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item to reimburse the debt service reserve included in the budgets of housing authorities; provided further, that the amount appropriated in this item shall be considered to meet all obligations under said sections 32 and 40 of said chapter 121B; provided further, that new reduced rental units developed in fiscal year 2023 eligible for subsidies under this item shall not cause any annualization that results in an amount exceeding the amount appropriated under this item; provided further, that all funds in excess of normal utilities, operations and maintenance costs may be expended for capital repairs; provided further, that no employee of a housing authority shall simultaneously be an elected executive officer within the same municipality in which the authority is located; and provided further, that the administration shall make every attempt to direct efforts toward rehabilitating local housing authority family units requiring $10,000 or less in repairs
HomeBASE (7004-0108)
Description of Change:
- Allows for automatic renewal of HomeBASE up to a 24-month period, for a total benefit of $20,000 over those two years
Language
For a program of short-term housing assistance to help families eligible for temporary emergency shelter under item 7004-0101 in addressing obstacles to maintaining or securing housing; provided, that the assistance shall include not less than 12 months of housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services for each family receiving benefits under this item; provided further, that a family shall not receive more than $20,000 in a 24- month period from this item; provided further, that so long as they meet the requirements of their housing stabilization plan, a family that received household assistance under this item whose income exceeds 50 per cent of area median income shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the 50 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that a family shall not be deemed ineligible as a result of any single violation of a self-sufficiency plan; provided further, that the department of housing and community development shall take all steps necessary to enforce regulations to prevent abuse in the short-term housing transition program, including a wage match agreement with the department of revenue; provided further, that a family that was terminated from the program or did not make a good faith effort to follow its housing stabilization plan during the term of its assistance shall be ineligible for benefits under said item 7004-0101 and this item for 12 months from the last date the family received financial assistance under said item 7004-0101 and this item; provided further, that a family’s housing stabilization plan shall adequately accommodate the ages and disabilities of the family members; provided further, that families receiving benefits under this program who are found ineligible for continuing benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal under chapter 23B of the General Laws; provided further, that families who are denied assistance under this item may appeal that denial under said chapter 23B, including subsection (F) of section 30 of said chapter 23B and regulations adopted to implement said chapter 23B; provided further, that the department of housing and community development, as a condition of continued eligibility for assistance under this program, may require disclosure of social security numbers by all members of a family receiving assistance under this item for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments and executive offices; provided further, that if a family member fails to provide a social security number for use in verifying the family’s income and eligibility, then the family shall no longer be eligible to receive benefits from this program; provided further, that the department shall administer this program through the following agencies, unless administering agencies are otherwise procured by the department: the Berkshire Housing Development Corporation; Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.; Community Teamwork Inc.; the Housing Assistance Corporation; the Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority; Way Finders, Inc.; Metro Housing Boston; the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development; the South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.; NeighborWorks Housing Solutions; and RCAP Solutions, Inc.; provided further, that the department shall reallocate funding based on performance-based statistics from underperforming service providers to above average service providers in order to move as many families from hotels, motels or shelters into more sustainable housing; provided further, that the department shall use funds provided under this program for stabilization workers to focus efforts on housing retention and to link households to supports, including job training, education, job search and child care opportunities available, and may enter into agreements with other public and private agencies for the provision of these services; provided further, that a stabilization worker shall be assigned to each household; provided further, that funds shall be used to more rapidly transition families served by the program into temporary or permanent sustainable housing; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, not less than 90 days prior to promulgating or amending any regulation, administrative practice or policy that would alter eligibility for or the level of benefits under this program to less than the benefit level available on June 30, 2022, the department shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the senate and house of representatives setting forth the justification for such changes including, but not limited to, any determination by the secretary of housing and economic development that available appropriations will be insufficient to meet projected expenses; provided further, that the department shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means, which shall include, but not be limited to, the: (i) number of families served, including available demographic information, as well as the number of children served under this item broken down by age; (ii) type of assistance given; (iii) average, minimum and maximum cost per family of said assistance; and (iv) total number of families receiving benefits under 7004-0101 that have received assistance under 7004-0108 during the previous 1, 2 and 3 years, including available demographic information; provided further, that the department shall expend funds under item 7004-0108 on families residing in temporary emergency shelters and family residential treatment or sober living programs under items 4512- 0200 and 4513-1130 if said families otherwise meet all eligibility requirements applicable to emergency shelter under item 7004- 0101, except that, solely for the purposes of this item, the fact that a family is residing in a temporary emergency domestic violence shelter under item 4513-1130 or in a family residential treatment or sober living program under item 4512-0200 shall not preclude said family from receiving assistance; provided further, that this item shall be subject to appropriation and, in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to, or shall be construed as giving rise to, any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated in this item; and provided further, that household assistance funds shall be advanced to the administering agencies at the end of each month and prior to the next month’s disbursement, the amount of which shall be estimated based on the prior month’s expenditure with a reconciliation not less than annually
Home and healthy for good (7004-0104)
Description of Changes:
- Removes language for carryover of unspent funds from previous fiscal year
Language
For the home and healthy for good program operated by Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, Inc. to reduce the incidence of chronic and long-term homelessness in the commonwealth; provided, that not less than $250,000 shall be expended to continue a supportive housing initiative for unaccompanied homeless young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning; provided further, that Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, Inc. shall be solely responsible for the administration of this program; provided further, that not later than March 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, Inc. shall submit a report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the department of housing and community development and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing: (i) the number of people served, including available demographic information; (ii) the average cost per participant; (iii) whether participants have previously received services from the department; and (iv) any projected cost-savings to the commonwealth associated with this program; provided further, that not less than $500,000 shall be expended for a statewide permanent supportive housing program to serve people experiencing long-term homelessness and who have complex medical and behavioral health needs for the purpose of ending homelessness, promoting housing stability and reducing costly utilization of emergency and acute care; provided further, that the Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing LLC shall be solely responsible for the administration of this program; and provided further, that not later than March 1, 2023, the Massachusetts Alliance for Supportive Housing LLC shall submit a report to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the department of housing and community development and the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing: (a) the number of people served, including available demographic information; (b) the average cost per participant; (c) whether participants have previously received services from the department; and (d) any projected cost-savings associated with this program for the department or in the utilization of emergency and acute care
