Below are minutes from the Family Services Committee’s last meeting on Tuesday, April 12. Also included below is a summary of the House budget proposal regarding EA and HomeBase, as summarized by the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless. The House Ways and Means Committee clearly responded to many of the concerns raised by advocates and echoed by our own Network. Further review, discussion and action steps by Network partners will follow shortly.
A Summary of the House EA and HomeBase proposal (as presented by the Mass. Coalition for the Homeless)
The House Ways and Means Committee’s budget would reduce funding for the Emergency Assistance family shelter and services program (EA, line item 7004-0101) to $97.8 million for FY’12, while also creating a separate $38.6 million account for short-term transitional subsidies (line item 7004-0108). These are the same proposed appropriations found in the Governor’s House 1 budget.
In his cover letter, Chairman Dempsey said, “The committee also worked tirelessly to ensure that service providers to the homeless receive adequate funding to continue their work toward providing emergency assistance and successfully rehousing families. Immediate temporary shelter will be available as it has in years past.” To that end, language contained in the HWM version of the EA line item refers to the three categories of families highlighted in the Governor’s budget, but does not limit access to shelter to only those families who are actively fleeing domestic violence, lost their housing due to fire or natural disaster, or are headed by a parent age 21 and under. The HWM budget specifically says that other families who are offered diversion and re-housing assistance through a new short-term transitional housing program (referred to by DHCD as “HomeBASE”, line item 7004-0108) will be able to access EA shelter if needed due to timing issues in using HomeBASE assistance.
The House Ways and Means Committee altered the proposed parameters of the program by not including a set cap of $8,000 on annual benefits, but instead saying that families can only use the subsidies in housing units at or below 80% of the fair market rent (FMR) and that the HomeBASE subsidy would make up the difference between the rent and a family’s contribution of 35% of its income towards rent and utilities. While the cap on families’ contributions is important, the firm cap of 80% FMR will make it very difficult for families to locate apartments in which to use their short-term rental assistance.
Similar to House 1, the program would be available to families for up to 3 years (36 consecutive months), and those families eligible for continuing assistance in years 2 and 3 generally would see their subsidy decline in value by 5% each year. HWM included an important exception so that any rent increase could not be implemented if it would require a family to pay more than 35% of its income to rent and utilities.
Family Services Committee Meeting Minutes – April 12, 2011
In attendance: Jane Banks, Center for Human Development, Joni Beck Brewer, Square One, Janis Broderick, Freeman House, Tammie Butler, Community Action, Cris Carl, Greenfield Family Inn, Marcia Crutchfield, HAPHousing, Heidi DeLeone, FOR Families, Ken DeMers, New England Farm Workers Council, Anthia Elliott, Safe Passage, Rose Evans, Center for Human Development, Peter Gagliardi, HAPHosuing, David Geld, Square One, Joanne Glier, Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Fran LeMay, Greenfield Family Inn, Ashley McGurn, FOR Families, Jordana O’Connell, Holyoke Public Schools homeless liaison, Lizzy Ortiz, City of Springfield, Steve Plummer, Springfield Partners for Community Action, Luz Vega, Womanshelter, Nina Vitello, DTA
ICHH contract update: 5 families served thus far in Hampden County. Surprisingly slow disbursement of funds. Prevailing theory is that families are not eligible due to failing to meet sustainability requirement (no more than 50% of income to rent). We agreed we will revisit this in order to ensure resources are actually being used to divert families from shelter. Pamela will follow-up separately with Hampden County providers.
Providers do not have signed contracts with UWPV yet. Pamela will follow-up with UWPV.
EA Reform Update
Awaiting House Budget – to be released tomorrow.
Peter Gagliardi provided overview: thinking forward: how to create more supportive housing; how to better connect to housing authorities; how to build relationships with private landlords around affordable housing.
Rose Evans of CHD presented the flow of services chart: HAP will do initial screening at DTA office. DHS Homeless Coordinator will determine EA eligibility. If eligible, next step is to determine benefit – shelter or HomeBase. If HomeBase, will determine whether to support staying in place or to re-house. Providers working closely together to maximize communication and collaboration.
So much in process – need to run 2 systems – old and new – as of 7/1, during transition period. Still much to work out in cost, housing stock, administration, outreach to rural communities, etc. Will continue to discuss and coordinate. Made all the more challenging with cuts in other services, e.g., child care, GED program.
Agreed we need to keep working on breaking down silos. Network will help facilitate that. Keep talking to each other, identify opportunities. Proposed to meet with housing court judges to discuss EA. Network will coordinate this after legislation is final.
Next meeting: Tuesday, 5/10, 9:30 am, DMH Haskell Building.
A Summary of the House EA and HomeBase proposal
The House Ways and Means Committee’s budget would reduce funding for the Emergency Assistance family shelter and services program (EA, line item 7004-0101) to $97.8 million for FY’12, while also creating a separate $38.6 million account for short-term transitional subsidies (line item 7004-0108). These are the same proposed appropriations found in the Governor’s House 1 budget.
In his cover letter, Chairman Dempsey said, “The committee also worked tirelessly to ensure that service providers to the homeless receive adequate funding to continue their work toward providing emergency assistance and successfully rehousing families. Immediate temporary shelter will be available as it has in years past.” To that end, language contained in the HWM version of the EA line item refers to the three categories of families highlighted in the Governor’s budget, but does not limit access to shelter to only those families who are actively fleeing domestic violence, lost their housing due to fire or natural disaster, or are headed by a parent age 21 and under. The HWM budget specifically says that other families who are offered diversion and re-housing assistance through a new short-term transitional housing program (referred to by DHCD as “HomeBASE”, line item 7004-0108) will be able to access EA shelter if needed due to timing issues in using HomeBASE assistance.
The House Ways and Means Committee altered the proposed parameters of the program by not including a set cap of $8,000 on annual benefits, but instead saying that families can only use the subsidies in housing units at or below 80% of the fair market rent (FMR) and that the HomeBASE subsidy would make up the difference between the rent and a family’s contribution of 35% of its income towards rent and utilities. While the cap on families’ contributions is important, the firm cap of 80% FMR will make it very difficult for families to locate apartments in which to use their short-term rental assistance.
Similar to House 1, the program would be available to families for up to 3 years (36 consecutive months), and those families eligible for continuing assistance in years 2 and 3 generally would see their subsidy decline in value by 5% each year. HWM included an important exception so that any rent increase could not be implemented if it would require a family to pay more than 35% of its income to rent and utilities.
