The Conference Committee is currently meeting to resolve differences between the House and Senate budgets. This is the last week to weigh in on this process. I will be reaching out to our legislators on behalf of the Network; your own voice will add immeasurably to the effort. Please contact Senate President Rosenberg and House Ways and Means Vice-Chair Stephen Kulik by phone or email (and find your own legislator as well) to urge their support of these top priorities:
- Unaccompanied Homeless Youth (4000-0007): Adopt the Senate’s appropriation of $2.5 million to provide increased support for housing and wrap-around support services for unaccompanied homeless youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness.
- Secure Jobs Initiative (4400-1020): Adopt the Senate’s appropriation of $800,000 with language that shifts the program from DHCD to DTA (per statewide program support) to provide support to this successful workforce development program for homeless families.
- Tenancy Preservation Project (7004-3045): Adopt the House appropriation of $750,000 to preserve more tenancies and prevent homelessness for persons with disabilities.
- RAFT (7004-0108): Adopt the Senate appropriation of $18.5 million as well as the language that maintains expanded eligibility for the program to include households of all sizes. At the Senate’s funding level, the State would be able to prevent homelessness for 6,000 households.
- Craig’s Doors and Berkshire Emergency Shelter Initiative Earmarks (7004-0102): Adopt the Senate funding ($200,000 and $150,000 respectively) of these two vital emergency shelter programs in Western Massachusetts. These resources are critical to addressing the emergency shelter needs across the region.
- The Western MA Network to End Homelessness (7004-0102): Adopt both the House and Senate appropriation of $125,000 in order to continue the work of collaboration and coordination necessary to prevent and end homelessness in Western Massachusetts.
For additional information about these and related Network priorities, please see CHAPA’s letter to the Conference Committee and please see Mass. Coalition for the Homeless’ online action.
Thanks for your advocacy!
