On May 9, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its FY2024 state budget proposal. The $55.8 billion budget includes increased funding for several of CHAPA’s affordable housing priorities, including MRVP, Public Housing, and RAFT.
The budget also proposed re-instating and making permanent tenant protections that pause eviction cases if there is a pending application for emergency rental assistance – this matches language in the House budget. The Legislature enacted this protection during the COVID emergency. The protection expired on March 31. Advocates, along with CHAPA, are advocating for this protection to be restored.
CHAPA thanks Senate President Spilka, Sen. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and the entire Senate Ways and Means Committee for their strong support of affordable housing programs.
The Senate will debate the budget the week of May 22. Senators can file amendments to the budget which are due by 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13. CHAPA will be working with its partners to support amendments that will make the final Senate budget the strongest possible for our affordable housing priorities.
The table below highlights funding proposals for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness prevention programs.
| Line-Item | Program | FY2024 Requests | SWM 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 | – | – | – | – |
* Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for MRVP to an estimated $199.5 million
** Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for AHVP to an estimated $26 million