Today, the Senate Ways and Means Committee released its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY2026) budget proposal. Amid ongoing uncertainty around federal funding, the budget includes funding increases for some housing programs, while others remain level-funded at FY25 levels or received less than proposals in the House budget.
The Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program received a significant increase, surpassing the funding levels proposed by both the Governor and the House. Public Housing Operating Subsidies also saw a modest increase. However, several programs received less support than in the House budget. The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) was funded below the House proposal, while Sponsor-Based Permanent Supportive Housing was funded below the increase proposed by the House.Housing Consumer Education Centers and Public Housing Reform were also funded at lower levels than the House. The Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP), HomeBASE, and Unaccompanied Homeless Youth programs were level-funded at their FY2025 amounts.
Senators have until Friday afternoon to file amendments, with the full Senate debate set to begin the week of May 12.
An updated tracking grid of CHAPA’s Senate budget priorities is available here ,