The House added nearly $130 million in spending making the FY2023 fiscal budget total $49.7 billion as it concluded debate on its budget on Wednesday evening, April 27. Although none of CHAPA’s priority amendments were adopted, the final House version of the budget provides increased funding for many of CHAPA’s affordable housing priorities, including the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, the Alternative Housing Voucher Program, Public Housing, RAFT, and HomeBASE. The Massachusetts Senate will debate its budget proposal in the last week of May.
The House budget increases housing funding by $841 million over the FY 2022 budget and provides $124.5 million more than the Governor’s budget. Please refer to the CHAPA Budget Priority chart for funding amounts for affordable housing. Below is the summary of some critical programs:
- Mass. Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) – The House funds MRVP at $150 million along with language to carry forward $21.9 million in unspent funds from FY22 bringing the MRVP total allocation at $171.9 million
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) – The House funds RAFT at $140 million ($60 million over the Governor’s proposal). 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. The Housing Consumer Education Center line item has also received an increased allocation of $9.7 million with $1.5 million dedicated to housing stabilization through the Eviction Diversion initiative.
- Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) – The House 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 – The House proposes increased funding for Public Housing Operating line item at $92 million.
- HomeBASE – The House allocates increased funding of $59.4 million for HomeBASE with automatic renewal of benefits up to 2 years.
CHAPA thanks the Speaker of the House, Ronald Mariano, Chairman of House Ways & Means (HWM) Committee, Aaron Michlewitz, Members of the HWM Committee, Chairman of Housing Commitee, James Arciero, and all the Representatives for championing and supporting the affordable housing priorities.