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A Quick Look at Selected Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) Line Items  

1. The Governor’s budget would increase funding for the Emergency Assistance family shelter and services program (line item 7004-0101) from the current FY’13 appropriation level of $80.0 million to $91.7 million for FY’14, leaving eligibility the same as the current standards, while decreasing funding for EA motel placements (line item 7004-0103) from $16.6 million to $10 million.

FY’13 funding level: Currently $96.6 million for the 2 accounts (not including the pending $39 million supplemental budget request re-filed by the Governor this month). Click here to learn more about the Coalition’s FY’13 EA supplemental budget request.

FY’14 House 1 funding proposal: $119 million for EA shelters + $10 million for EA motels = $129 million

FY’14 MCH funding request: Adequate funding so as to restore access to families at imminent risk of having to stay in places not meant for human habitation and to avoid the need for further eligibility restrictions 

2. The Governor’s budget would decrease funding for the HomeBASE program (line item 7004-0108) to $58.8 million, reflecting the upcoming “timing out” of many families in the rental assistance portion of the program. This program provides short-term transitional subsidies, diversion, and moving assistance for certain EA-eligible families.

FY’13 funding level: Currently $83.4 million (not including the pending $5.3 million supplemental budget request re-filed by the Governor this month)

FY’14 House 1 funding proposal: $58.8 million

FY’14 MCH funding request: Adequate funding to continue serving current participants and to be able to offer household assistance and moving assistance to new families in FY’14 and to be able to extend benefits to families timing out of HomeBASE rental assistance who lack feasible alternative affordable housing

3. The Governor’s budget would slightly decrease funding for the line item that provides funding for shelter and services for unaccompanied individuals at-risk and experiencing homelessness (line item 7004-0102) to $40.3 million.

FY’13 funding level: $40.5 million  

FY’14 House 1 funding proposal: $40.3 million

FY’14 MCH funding request: $40.5 million   

4. The Governor’s budget would fund the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, line item 7004-9024) at $46.5 million, a $4.5 million increase from the FY’13 allocation.   

FY’13 funding level: $42 million

FY’14 House 1 funding proposal: $46.5 million

FY’14 MCH funding request: At least $46.5 million (Stay tuned for more details on the joint MCH/Housing Solutions Campaign funding request.)

5. The Governor’s budget would provide level funding for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program (RAFT, line item 7004-9316) at $8.8 million.

FY’13 funding level: $8.8 million

FY’14 House 1 funding proposal: $8.8 million

FY’14 MCH funding request: $8.8 million  

6. The Governor’s budget would provide $64.4 million in funding for public housing authority operating subsidies (line item 7004-9005), a slight decrease from the FY’13 level. In addition, the Governor has proposed

FY’13 funding level: $64.5 million

FY’14 House 1 funding proposal: $64.4 million  

FY’14 MCH funding request: $71.0 million

7. The Governor’s budget would provide level funding for the Home and Healthy for Good Program (line item 7004-0104) at $1.4 million. This program employs a Housing First model to provide housing and services to unaccompanied adults who have experienced chronic homelessness. 

 FY’13 funding level: $1.4 million