The Senate added nearly $82.2 million in spending making the FY2024 fiscal budget total nearly $56 billion as it concluded the debate on its budget on May 27th. From the CHAPA’s priority amendments, #66 on Community Preservation Act was adopted.
The House and Senate will now reconcile the differences in the two budget proposals through the Conference Committee.
CHAPA Budget Priority Chart. Below is the summary of some critical programs:
- Mass. Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) – The Senate funds MRVP at almost $200 million (compared to $180 million by the House) including the leftover funds of $20 million from FY2023. The Senate also adds language to
- Sets payment standard at 110% of the Fair Market Rent and allows the use of Small Area Fair Market Rents
- Allows use of a higher payment standard as a reasonable accommodation or otherwise at the discretion of the executive office
- Caps the tenant rent share to 40% of their income towards rent after the first year of participation in the program
- Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) – The Senate allocated $16 million along with language to carry forward $10 million in unspent funds from FY23 bringing the AHVP total allocation to $26 million, $2 million higher than the House.
- Public Housing – The Senate proposes increased funding for the Public Housing Operating line item at $107 million compared to $102 million by the House.
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) – The Senate funds RAFT at $195 million ($15 million over the House’s proposal). The Housing Consumer Education Center line item is allocated at $8.9 million in the Senate compared to $9.7 million in the House.
- HomeBASE – The Senate allocated $39.5 million for this line item while the House level funded HomeBASE at $42 million with an increase in the benefit cap to $30,000 over 2 years and removal of income increases as terms of eligibility.
The Senate also adopted an amendment by Sen. Edwards related to Chapter 257 (Pandemic era law requiring a pause in eviction cases for nonpayment of rent if a tenant has a pending application for rental assistance programs like RAFT).
The budget amendment would do the following:
- Keep the Chapter 257 provisions pause in place
- Require courts to notify the state of any suspended eviction cases for officials to expedite a pending aid application, and for a tenant to get the case they face paused, their application for aid would need to be “made in good faith”
- Require the courts to dismiss the landlord’s eviction claim if a tenant receives the emergency rental aid they sought and the “full amount” is paid to a landlord
- In this case, allow tenants to petition to seal the court record
CHAPA thanks the Senate President, Karen Spilka, Chairman of the Senate Ways & Means (SWM) Committee, Michael Rodrigues, Members of the SWM Committee, Chairman of the Housing Committee, Lydia Edwards, and all the Senators for championing and supporting the affordable housing priorities.
| Line-Item | Program | FY2024 Requests | Senate FY2024 Budget | House FY2024 Budget | FY2024 Gov’s Budget | FY2023 Budget |
| 7004-9024 | Mass. Rental Voucher Program | $250,000,000 | $179,597,023* | $173,247,567* | $168,247,567 | $154,000,000 |
| 7004-9030 | Alternative Housing Voucher Program | $26,000,000 | $16,863,078** | $14,108,528** | $14,108,528 | $13,685,355 |
| 7004-9316 | Residential Assistance for Families in Transition | $250,000,000 | $195,000,000 | $180,602,462 | $162,602,462 | $150,000,000 |
| 7004-9005 | Public Housing Operating | $184,000,000 | $107,000,000 | $102,000,000 | $92,000,000 | $92,000,000 |
| 7004-3036 | Housing Consumer Education Centers | $10,185,000 | $8,974,000 | $9,700,000 | $8,774,000 | $9,700,000 |
| 7004-9007 | Public Housing Reform | $7,700,000 | $1,250,000 | $2,200,000 | $2,200,000 | $1,000,000 |
| 7004-0104 | Home & Healthy for Good | $8,390,000 | $6,390,000 | $8,890,000 | $4,162,300 | $6,390,000 |
| 7004-0108 | HomeBASE | $60,000,000 | $39,570,445 | $42,070,445 | $42,070,445 | $59,411,201 |
| 7006-0011 | Foreclosure & Housing Counseling | $3,050,000 | $3,050,000 | $3,050,000 | $1,500,000 | $3,050,000 |
| 7004-3045 | Tenancy Preservation Program | $2,000,000 | $2,042,755 | $2,042,755 | $2,042,755 | $1,800,000 |
| 4120-4001 | MassAccess Registry | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 | $150,000 |
| 4000-0007 | Unaccompanied Homeless Youth | $12,000,000 | $11,000,000 | $10,545,850 | $10,545,850 | $9,500,000 |
| 7004-0106 | New Lease for Homeless Families | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 | $250,000 |
| NEW | Fair Housing Trust Fund | $1,500,000 | – | – | – | – |
| NEW | Access to Counsel Program | $7,000,000 | – | – | – | – |
Tax Relief Bill: The Senate has additionally factored in $575 million to cover tax relief in a separate bill that still has not yet emerged while the House approved a tax relief bill (H 3770) with an estimated $587 million impact in FY24 and $1.1 billion once it fully takes effect over several years.