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Outcomes for Key Amendments to Housing, Homelessness, and Benefits Line Items*

* Please note that the links below will bring you to the page on which the amendments are listed (Economic Development, Health and Human Services 1, and Health and Human Services 2.) From there, you can scroll or search to find the amendment text on the page.

Emergency Assistance Family Shelter and Services Program (EA, Line Item 7004-0101):

Amendment 341, sponsored by Chairwoman Susan Tucker: This amendment would increase the notice time from 45 days to 90 days before changes could be made in EA program eligibility or benefits. It also would prohibit the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) from giving such notice before December 5, 2010, so as to allow the Legislature time to take action after returning to formal sessions on January 5, 2011. In addition, this amendment would ensure that EA eligibility is not reduced due to a potential decrease in the 2010-2011 federal poverty guidelines. The language would direct DHCD to base eligibility on 115% of the 2009 federal poverty guidelines, or a later-issued standard that is higher. The House already has adopted identical language. This amendment would help protect children and families experiencing homelessness. This amendment was co-sponsored by Senators Candaras, Eldridge, Spilka, and Walsh. Please click here for a fact sheet on Amendment 341.

Outcome: This amendment was redrafted and passed by the Senate. The redrafted version reduces the advanced notice period to 60 days, but retains the other elements of the original amendment.

Amendment 334, sponsored by Chairwoman Susan Tucker: This amendment would change language in the proposed EA line item, clarifying that the $3.5 million in earmarked funds should be used to help to “more rapidly move families into permanent sustainable housing.”

Outcome: This amendment was approved!

Amendment 645, sponsored by Chairman Stephen Buoniconti: While we were very concerned about this amendment, it was substantially redrafted in positive ways and approved. The new version of the amendment, among other things, would:

1.) Require DHCD to develop a plan to end, within one year, the use of motels as shelter placements, while still allowing placements if needed due to insufficient shelter space, to accommodate families with disabilities, to keep children in school in their home community, to keep families near their home community, etc.

2.) Require DHCD to assess families and connect families with housing search services within 10 business days of motel placements.

3.) Require DHCD to provide cribs for children under the age of 3 who are placed in motels. The language also would require the Department of Children and Families to inspect these cribs and motel rooms for safety. The Senate language also would fine motels/hotels up to $10,000 per instance for not providing safe and adequate cribs. (We fully support the provision of safe cribs. We are, however, concerned that such steep fines may cause motels/hotels to decline DHCD’s business, potentially leaving DHCD with inadequate shelter capacity.)

Outcome: This redrafted amendment was approved.

Department of Housing and Community Development Administrative Account (Line Item 7004-0099):
Amendment 349, sponsored by Chairwoman Susan Tucker: This amendment would protect households that receive a short-term subsidy from losing priority for a permanent housing subsidy. This amendment would cost nothing, and simply clarify that a priority that already exists is not lost due to the receipt of a short-term subsidy. This language is especially important at a time when the DHCD has issued more than 1,200 short-term vouchers to help families exit shelter and thousands of additional households are receiving temporary rental assistance through the federally funded Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Program (HPRP). The House already has adopted similar language. This amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Candaras, Eldridge, Spilka, and Walsh. Please click here for a fact sheet on Amendment 349.

Outcome: This amendment was approved!

Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children Program (EAEDC, Line Item 4408-1000):

Amendment 556, sponsored by Chairwoman Gale Candaras: This amendment would increase the notice time from 60 days to 90 days before changes could be made in EAEDC program eligibility or benefits. It also would prohibit the Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) from giving notice before December 5, 2010, so as to allow the Legislature time to take action after returning to formal sessions on January 5, 2011. This amendment would help protect extremely low-income elders and persons with disabilities. The House already has adopted identical language. This amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Spilka and Walsh. Please click here for a fact sheet on Amendment 556.

Outcome: Unfortunately, this amendment was rejected.

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children Program (TAFDC, Line Item 4403-2000):

Amendment 549, sponsored by Chairwoman Gale Candaras: This amendment would increase the notice time from 60 days to 90 days before changes could be made in TAFDC program eligibility or benefits. It also would prohibit DTA from giving notice before December 5, 2010, so as to allow the Legislature time to take action after returning to formal sessions on January 5, 2011. This amendment would help protect extremely low-income families with children. The House already has adopted identical language. This amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Spilka and Walsh. Please click here for a fact sheet on Amendment 549.

Outcome: Unfortunately, this amendment was rejected.

Amendment 654, sponsored by Chairman Stephen Buoniconti: While we were very concerned about this amendment, it was redrafted twice and narrowed before being approved. The redrafted amendment would prohibit the use of Department of Transitional Assistance cash assistance benefits on electronic benefit cards for the purchase of alcohol and tobacco, and punish individuals or store owners that accept such payments with up to 2.5 years imprisonment and/or a $1,000 fine. The amendment also would delineate punishment for fraud, theft, and abuse within DTA programs.

Outcome: The second redraft of this amendment was approved.

Department of Transitional Assistance Administrative Account (Line Item 4400-1000):

Amendment 658, sponsored by Chairwoman Patricia Jehlen: This no-cost amendment would require DTA to produce a report this year setting forth the design and costs of a DTA-based, early warning, homelessness prevention program for families and individuals participating in DTA programs. This “No Place Like Home” program is generally described in Senate Bill 43/House Bill 169, “An Act to Prevent Homelessness Among Recipients of Transitional Assistance”. Having this report will move the state one step closer to giving DTA the tools needed to help the low-income families and individuals it serves to remain housed and avoid homelessness. This amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Eldridge, Fargo, and Spilka. Please click here for a fact sheet on Amendment 658.

Outcome: This amendment was approved!

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program (RAFT, Line Item 7004-9316):

Amendment 325, sponsored by Chairman Jamie Eldridge:This amendment would increase RAFT funding to $2.5 million for FY’11, so as to help more children and families avoid or exit homelessness. This amendment is co-sponsored by Senators Fargo and Jehlen.

Outcome: Unfortunately, this amendment was rejected.

Shelter and Services for Unaccompanied Adults (Line Item 7004-0102):

Amendment 289, sponsored by Chairman Jack Hart: This amendment would increase the appropriation by $350,000 so as to match the final House amount of $37,643,335.

Outcome: Unfortunately, this amendment was rejected.