Governor Charlie Baker today signed the Fiscal Year 2023 budget, a $52.7 billion budget with historic investments in affordable housing programs along with other critical priorities.The final budget deposits nearly $1.5 billion into the Rainy Day Fund bringing the balance of the Fund to $8.4 billion.
CHAPA thanks the Legislature and Governor Baker for making historic investments in affordable housing programs. These investments are critical as Massachusetts recovers from the pandemic.
The budget allocates $884.6 million for the Department of Housing and Community Development, a $300.5 million (51%) increase above FY22. This includes $154.3 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), which will support enhanced benefits and reforms that will give families more housing choice and flexibility.
Along with eligibility expansions that will multiply the number of households served and increase benefits, the budget invests a historic $150 million in Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), a 582% increase above FY22, and it provides $59.4 million for HomeBASE, a 129% increase vs. FY22. It also supports $110 million for homeless individual shelters, a 90% increase above FY22.
Specifically, the budget invests in the following:
- $219.4 million for the Emergency Assistance family shelter system
- $154.3 million for MRVP to support more than 10,000 vouchers in FY23
- $150 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), an increase of $128 million above FY22
- $110 million for Homeless Individual Shelters and $5 million to continue an innovative model to create new housing opportunities with wraparound services for chronically homeless individuals
- $92 million in funding for Local Housing Authorities
- $59.4 million for HomeBASE Household Assistance
- $12.5 million for a collaborative program through which the Department of Mental Health provides mental health services and DHCD provides rental assistance