Please see posting from Mass. Coalition for the Homeless below re: amendments that impact homelessness assistance.
After an incredibly intense last week across the Commonwealth, the House of Representatives still is scheduled to debate amendments to the House Committee on Ways and Means’s (HWM) fiscal year 2014 budget recommendations this week. The debate will be the next step in shaping the state budget for the fiscal year that will begin on July 1st.
To learn more about the Coalition’s FY’14 budget priorities, please click here.
Thank you for advocating with us to protect and promote investment in these programs!
| House Ways and Means FY’14 Budget Recommendations for Housing, Shelter, Homelessness Prevention, and Cash Assistance Programs
To access HWM’s complete budget recommendations, please go to HWM FY’14 budget recommendations.
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Key Amendments: Please Ask Your State Representative to Actively Support These FY’14 Budget Amendments
1. Emergency Assistance Family Shelter and Services Program (line item 7004-0101)
Key Amendment Information:
Representative Kay Khan has filed Amendment #585 (fact sheet) to add language to the EA line item so that families who are at imminent risk of staying in places not meant for human habitation are able to access shelter before having to actually stay in such places. The amendment also clarifies that families who otherwise meet the EA eligibility criteria who have been forced to stay in 3 or more places in the last 30 days can qualify under the “irregular housing” sub-category if they have nowhere else to go. Please ask your Representative to strongly support this amendment throughout the caucus and debate processes. Please also thank your Representative if she/he is on this list of co-sponsors:
Representative Byron Rushing has filed Amendment #649 to address current and anticipated problems with the HomeBASE program, which serves families experiencing homelessness and provides rental and household assistance. The amendment would 1.) extend the HomeBASE rental assistance time limit to 36-months from the current 24-month limit; 2.) allow EA shelter access for families who will be unable to sustain their tenancies after their HomeBASE subsidies end; 3.) allow families timing out of the HomeBASE rental assistance program to access RAFT homelessness prevention resources or HomeBASE household assistance, if needed; 4.) affirm HomeBASE families’ priority status for state-funded affordable housing resources; and 5.) require DHCD to track and report on the number, status, and outcomes for HomeBASE families. Please ask your Representative to strongly support this amendment throughout the caucus and debate processes. Please also thank your Representative if she/he is on this list of co-sponsors:
3. Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, line item 7004-9024)
Representative Paul Donato of Medford has filed Amendment #159 to increase funding for MRVP to $50 million. Please ask your Representative to strongly support this amendment throughout the caucus and debate processes. Please also thank your Representative if she/he is on this list of co-sponsors:
Representatives Donato of Medford, Speliotis of Danvers, Kafka of Stoughton, Kaufman of Lexington and Smizik of Brookline
Representative Gloria Fox of Boston has filed Amendment #491 to increase funding for MRVP to $60 million. Please ask your Representative to strongly support this amendment throughout the caucus and debate processes. Please also thank your Representative if she/he is on this list of co-sponsors:
Representatives Fox of Boston, Devers of Lawrence, Forry of Boston, O’Day of West Boylston, Decker of Cambridge, Khan of Newton, Henriquez of Boston, Garballey of Arlington, Sciortino of Medford, Rogers of Cambridge and Hecht of Watertown
4. Unaccompanied Youth Homelessness Resources (via line item 4000-0300)
Representative Jim O’Day has filed Amendment #503 to add $500,000 to the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) administrative line item, 4000-0300. The funds would be used to 1.) pilot a survey of unaccompanied youth in 3-5 areas within Massachusetts and conduct youth outreach; 2.) fund 3-6 demonstration projects to identify service and housing models appropriate to support unaccompanied youth in their education and successful transition from childhood to adulthood; and 3.) fund a part-time staff person or consultant to oversee implementation, to analyze data, and to report to the Massachusetts Unaccompanied Homeless Youth Commission. Please ask your Representative to strongly support this amendment throughout the caucus and debate processes. Please also thank your Representative if she/he is on this list of co-sponsors:
Representatives O’Day of West Boylston, Heroux of Attleboro, Andrews of Orange, Fox of Boston, Keefe of Worcester, Rogers of Cambridge, Sullivan of Fall River, Cronin of Easton, Kafka of Stoughton, Khan of Newton, Kocot of Northampton, Malia of Boston, Ehrlich of Marblehead, Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, Gordon of Bedford, Hecht of Watertown, Swan of Springfield, Walsh of Lynn, Garballey of Arlington, Provost of Somerville and Scibak of South Hadley
6. Statewide Network of Furniture Banks (via line item 7004-0099)
7. Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (line item 4403-2000)
Key Amendment Information:
Representative Tom Sannicandro has filed Amendment #797 to continue to provide a $40/month rental subsidy to TAFDC program participants living in market rate housing. Please ask your Representative to strongly support this amendment throughout the caucus and debate processes. Please also thank your Representative if she/he is on this list of co-sponsors:
Representatives Sannicandro of Ashland, Brady of Brockton, Canavan of Brockton, Cronin of Easton, Decker of Cambridge, Farley-Bouvier of Pittsfield, Finn of West Springfield, Fox of Boston, Gregoire of Marlborough, Heroux of Attleboro, Keefe of Worcester, Khan of Newton, O’Day of West Boylston, Rogers of Cambridge, Sciortino of Medford, Smizik of Brookline, Swan of Springfield and Toomey of Cambridge
Representative Tom Stanley of Waltham has filed Amendment #590, which would increase funding to reimburse cities and towns for the costs incurred in providing transportation to students experiencing homelessness. The amendment would increase the funding to the initial FY’13 funding level of $11.3 million.
Representatives Stanley of Waltham, Brady of Brockton, Gordon of Bedford, Sullivan of Fall River, Fox of Boston, Madden of Nantucket, Garballey of Arlington, Dwyer of Woburn, O’Day of West Boylston, Cronin of Easton, Gregoire of Marlborough, Balser of Newton, Lawn of Watertown, Walsh of Framingham, Khan of Newton, Sannicandro of Ashland, Decker of Cambridge and Speliotis of Danvers
