Homelessness
Massachusetts has taken a major step forward this year to end homelessness with the completion of the Commission to End Homelessness in the Commonwealth. The report lays out an exciting blueprint with recommendations for new policies and practices that will make ending homelessness a reality. Governor Patrick and the House of Representatives have committed $10 million in the budget to begin work on this new initiative which moves from a 'one size fits all' approach to a more flexible system which better meets the needs of our homeless population. This year's funding will be used to pilot new initiatives to move families and indviduals out of shelters and into permanent housing.
Housing
UU Mass Action is supporting the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). MRVP is the state’s rental assistance program. It helps low-income households with income at or below 200% of the federal poverty line ($2,933/month for a family of three) to pay their rent in private apartments. MRVP vouchers are provided as mobile and project-based subsidies. Despite increases in funding over the past 4 years, previous program cuts have meant that only 4,600 out of the 7,400 vouchers authorized under this program were in use at the end of FY’07.
Want to take action? Please call your State Representative and State Senator and ask them to speak with the members of the Budget Conference Committee in support of the following items:
Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP - 7004-9024)
Appropriation: The Coalition urges the Conference Committee to adopt the Senate's appropriation of $33 million for this line item.
The Coalition thanks both the House and Senate for increasing the appropriation for this account. The Coalition urges the Conference Committee to adopt the slightly higher Senate appropriation. Even given the higher Senate appropriation, it is questionable whether the program will be able to maintain the current level of vouchers and services. If the Commonwealth is to meet its new commitment to end homelessness, maintaining this program is critical.
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition Program (RAFT - 7004-9316)
Appropriation: The Coalition urges the Conference Committee to adopt the Senate's appropriation of $5.5 million for this line item.
The Coalition thanks both the House and the Senate for recognizing the need to increase the appropriation for this important prevention program. In each of the past few years, many regions have run through their appropriation shortly after the beginning of the calendar year. With households struggling to meet skyrocketing utility & fuel costs, as well as the impact of these increases on the costs of other basic needs, low income households will need additional help next year to remain stably housed. The Coalition urges the Conference Committee to adopt the Senate's higher appropriation for this line item so that RAFT can assist as many households as possible during the next fiscal year.
Nutritional Assistance for Legal Immigrants (4404-1000)
Appropriation: The Coalition urges the Conference Committee to adopt the Senate's appropriation of $100,000 for this line item.
The Senate budget provides $100,000 to fund a nutritional assistance program for legal immigrants who are not eligible for federal food stamps. From 1997 to 2002, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts provided state-funded nutritional assistance in line item 4404-1000 to legally present immigrants who did not qualify for federal nutritional as a result of the 1996 federal welfare reform law. Prior to 2002, the cost of the program declined due to more legal immigrants qualifying for federally funded benefits and therefore no longer needing state-funded benefits. However, a state fiscal crisis caused this program to be suspended in July of 2002. While funding for this program is much less than the $2 million advocates were seeking, it is a step in the right direction, and will provide funds to pilot a program which later can be taken to scale.