Below is an advocacy update from the MA Coalition for the Homeless:
Yesterday, the House Committee on Ways and Means (HWM) unveiled its fiscal year 2015 budget recommendations for the Commonwealth. This $36.2 billion budget marks the next step on the path to developing the state budget for the fiscal year that will begin on July 1st. Tomorrow afternoon (Friday, April 11th) will be the deadline for House members to file amendments to the HWM budget, with the House budget debate scheduled for the week of April 28th. Please see the sections below for preliminary information on the House Ways and Mean’s budget proposals for housing, shelter, homelessness prevention, and cash assistance programs, as well as some information on relevant amendments. Please take action today on the known amendments, and stay tuned in the week ahead for a more detailed analysis and additional information about amendments.
As this is only the next of several proposals on the way to the final FY’15 budget, your voice will be critical to helping to protect housing, homelessness, and safety net programs for families, individuals, and youth.
To learn more about the Coalition’s FY’15 budget priorities, please click here.
Thank you for advocating with us to protect and promote investment in these programs!
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| House Ways and Means FY’15 Budget Recommendations for Housing, Shelter, Homelessness Prevention, and Cash Assistance Programs
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Take Action Today!
1. Please ask your State Representative to support families, individuals, and youth experiencing homelessness and/or living in poverty by co-sponsoring the amendments listed above.
2. Please ask your State Representative to support the Coalition’s budget priorities throughout the budget debate, in particular, our requests to:
- Increase funding to identify, connect, house, and serve unaccompanied youth who are experiencing homelessness
- Expanding the safety net of shelter for families by providing access to Emergency Assistance shelter and Seven Day Temporary Emergency Accommodations to those families at imminent risk of having to stay in places not meant for human habitation and other families facing dangerous situations
- Increasing the investment in key affordable housing programs, including MRVP and public housing
- Providing up to $8,000 in HomeBASE benefits to families who need additional assistance to exit shelter or to avoid entering shelter
State Representatives can be reached through the State House switchboard: 617-722-2000, or directly through the numbers listed here: Directory of Representatives.
To search for your Representative based on your address, pleaseclick here. |
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