Legislature Sends COVID-19 FY2020 Supplemental Budget to the Governor

Post date
July 17, 2020

On July 16, the Legislature sent their final FY2020 COVID-19 Supplemental Budget bill (H.4808) to the Governor for his signature. The $1.1 billion budget includes $20 million for additional RAFT homelessness prevention resources for families and individuals impacted by COVID-19, $1.5 million for Housing Consumer Education Centers, $1 million more for housing and services for unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness, at least $9.25 million specifically for shelters serving unaccompanied adults, $13.5 million for local housing authorities, and other relevant investments. The supplemental budget would also allow households to access up to $10,000 in RAFT assistance to help pay missed rent or mortgage payments. Currently, households can only access up to $4,000 in RAFT assistance.

For a full summary of the housing-related items in the budget, click here.

The Governor has 10 days to sign the budget, veto, or send items back to the Legislature with amendments. Please help us pass this budget by contacting the Governor and asking him to sign it quickly! Click here to a page where you can submit comments to the Governor.

Please use the following to include in your message to the Governor:

I am writing to ask that you quickly sign the FY2020 COVID-19 Supplemental Budget. The budget includes critically needed resources for affordable housing, homelessness prevention, and emergency shelter providers. Please sign the budget to include funding for RAFT emergency rental assistance, local housing authorities, housing consumer education centers, emergency shelter for families and individuals, unaccompanied homeless youth, and permanent supportive housing. I also ask that you sign the budget allowing households to access up to $10,000 in RAFT assistance. At a time when thousands of households risk losing their home because of the virus and thousands more are already in shelter, Massachusetts needs these resources to help everyone have a safe and healthy home. Thank you.