CALL TO ACTION: CONTACT YOUR LOCAL REPRESENTATIVE 

Massachusetts House begins debate on FY’15 Budget 

 
The House Ways & Means Committee released their budget proposal last week, which proposed overall level funding for housing and homelessness prevention programs.
 
The budget proposal provides a $3 million increase for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), a $500,000 increase for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), a $1 million increase for DMH rental subsidies, and a $200,000 increase for Home and Healthy for Good. While Housing Consumer Education Centers received the deepest cut at $1 million and Public Housing was cut by $400,000, programs such as the Alternative Housing Voucher Program(AHVP) and the Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP) were level funded. In both the Governor’s proposal and the House Ways & Means proposal, spending on motels for homeless families is reduced while shelter is expanded to meet the continuing crisis-level need. CHAPA’s budget analysis provides information on funding for housing programs dating back to FY’11. See more details about our budget priorities here and here. 

Several Representatives have filed amendments to the budget to increase resources for CHAPA priorities or to alter the way these resources are allocated and administered. Please call your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor and support the following amendments. You can find your legislator’s contact information here.
 
Restore funding to MRVP (7004-9024)
With more than 229,600 low income renters paying more than half of their income to rent and an additional 4,000 families living in shelters and motels, restoring the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program is critical. Once funded at $125 million and serving 20,000 households, MRVP is now funded at $57.5 million and serves approximately 7,000 families and individuals. With housing costs on the rise and the need for shelter continuing at crisis levels, restoring funding is the top priority of CHAPA and our Building Blocks Coalition.

• Amendment 1105, Representative Sean Garballey’s amendment to fund MRVP at $75.5 million and to strike the language that reduces the administrative fee, which is critical to the program’s efficiency and effectiveness.
• Amendment 519, Representative Gloria Fox’s amendment to fund MRVP at $87.6 million

Allow continued access to HomeBASE and RAFT (7004-0108 and 7004-9316)

• Amendment 904, Representative Kevin Honan’s amendment maintains the maximum dollar amount that families may receive, but allows families to access HomeBASE household assistance and RAFT in order to remain in stable housing or find housing options as an alternative to shelter. HomeBASE has been used successfully this year to divert families from shelter and complete the second year of temporary rental assistance (ending in FY’14) for more than 5,000 families. DHCD uses HomeBASE and RAFT to help families stabilize their housing and to find new housing. Without the flexibility to access both programs if needed, more families are likely to enter or re-enter the shelter system.

Fund Resident Services in Public Housing(7004-9005)

• Amendment 455, Representative Peter Kocot’s amendment adds $2 million to the Public Housing Operating line (7004-9005) for resident services, including career counseling, vocational training, adult basic education programs, child care, literacy programs, technology classes, case management, pre-apprentice training, and other locally determined service priorities. This amendment builds off of the Governor’s Commission on Public Housing Reform that stresses the importance of funding innovative programs for residents

Restore Rental Vouchers to Persons with Disabilities (7004-9030)

• Amendment 712, Representative Timothy Toomey’s amendment adds $1.55 million to the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) to fund approximately 155 new vouchers for disabled individuals. Since AHVP was established in 1995, the demand for housing for people with disabilities increased significantly, especially with state initiatives to assist people to move out of nursing homes. The program currently serves 412 people. With $5 million in funding, AHVP would serve approximately 567 people with disabilities.

Level Fund the Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs) (7004-3036)

• Amendment 795, Representative Paul Mark’s amendment restores $1 million to the Housing Consumer Education Centers, level funding the Centers at $2.6 million. HCEC staff assess the needs of families and individuals facing immediate housing crises and help them develop solutions. The HCECs have served more than 49,500 households in the first nine months of this year with demand on the rise. Level funding will maintain crisis prevention and housing education services, which will result in fewer evictions and foreclosures and take pressure off Housing Courts and other state services. 

Increase Funding for the Tenancy Preservation Program (7004-3045)

• Amendment 395, Representative Michael Brady’s amendment increases funding for the Tenancy Preservation Program (TPP) by $250,000 to a total of $750,000. TPP prevents homelessness among people with disabilities by working with landlords and tenants and providing clinical consultation services to the Housing Court. The program has stabilized 87% of the households served. This amendment would provide approximately 650 households with TPP services.

Fully Recapitalize the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund

• Amendment 915, Representative Chris Walsh’s amendment to fully recapitalize the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund with $45 million from the budget surplus. Redeveloping brownfields sites across the Commonwealth revitalizes distressed markets, reduces toxic hazards in our communities, and promotes sustainable development. Over the past five years, the Fund has supported the creation of 2,551 homes, 2,242 construction jobs, and an additional 2,191 jobs expected to be created by developers accessing the Fund. Earlier this year, the Legislature appropriated $15 million to partially recapitalize the Brownfields Redevelopment Fund. This will allow MassDevelopment to start funding projects for the first time in more than a year. An additional $45 million will fully recapitalize the Fund so that it can meet the growing demand for resources across the Commonwealth.

Make New Funding Available for Fuel Assistance

• Amendment 866, Representative Paul Mark’s amendment creates a new $20 million line item for fuel assistance. With a decrease in funds through the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), nearly 200,000 households remain vulnerable to exhausting their fuel assistance benefit before winter ends. By creating a new line item and supplementing the federal allocation, these 200,000 low income families, children, and elderly residents will stay safe and warm throughout the entire winter season. 

Create a Commission to Study the Need for Visitable and Accessible Homes

• Amendment 499, Representative Jonathan Hecht’s amendment establishes a commission to study home visitability standards and make recommendations about increasing the accessibility and inclusiveness of the Commonwealth’s housing stock. This amendment mirrors S. 601, passed by the Senate in October.

Please call your Representative and ask them to co-sponsor and support the amendments. You can find your legislator’s contact information here.