Reach out to Committee Members on FY22 Budget Conference Committee

Join us in taking action to expand homelessness and housing resources in the FY22 budget. Sign our online action to the conference committee members today! Once you sign it, please also share the action with others: https://tinyurl.com/mch61521. Thanks!

Email to Committee Members on FY22 Budget Conference Committee

As the start of fiscal year 2022 approaches, the Coalition is working hard to make sure that key homelessness priorities are included in the final state budget. The budget process is now in the conference committee stage where members of both the Massachusetts House and Senate convene to reconcile their respective versions of the budget. This year, the conference committee members are Senator Michael Rodrigues, Senator Cindy Friedman, Senator Patrick O'Connor, Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante, and Representative Todd Smola. We're asking you to reach out to the conferees to tell them how important housing and homelessness priorities will have a positive impact on the families, individuals, and youth who need them most, and that those priorities should be included in the final budget. Together, we can build a stronger budget for low-income people in Massachusetts.

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Dear [recipient position will go here] [recipient name will go here],

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I'm reaching out to express my support for key housing and homelessness funding and language priorities that will ensure that the final FY22 budget more fully prioritizes low-income households across the Commonwealth.

Investments in homelessness prevention, shelter, and rental assistance all serve to strengthen low-income households. Please actively support the key priorities listed below:

Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter and services (line item 7004-0101): Fund at the House and Senate recommended funding level of $195,885,750, with Senate language to use at least $150,000 to create an independent ombudsperson office within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for families applying for and participating in EA and HomeBASE. Include Senate language to create an ombudsperson office and the Senate's expanded tracking and reporting language.

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (line item 7004-9316): Fund at the House funding level of $26,725,768 ($22,000,000 in recommended direct appropriations plus $4,725,768 from the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund.) Include House language to retain the $10,000 cap on annual benefits for the full fiscal year, and Senate language to decouple RAFT and HomeBASE benefits so as to allow eligible households to maximize funding from both programs.

Housing and Services for Unaccompanied Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness (line item 4000-0007): Fund at the House and Senate funding level of $8,000,000.

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (line item 7004-9024): Fund at the Senate funding level of $150,000,000 ($129,981,667 in new appropriations plus not less than $20,018,333 in unspent funds from FY21). Include Senate language so that voucher holders would not have to pay more than 30% of their income toward rent from current standard of 40% of income, and additional Senate language so that at least 75% of newly issued vouchers would be targeted to households with incomes at or below 30% area median income at time of initial occupancy.

HomeBASE (line item 7004-0108): Fund at the House and Senate funding level of $25,970,612. Include Senate language as included in the RAFT line item (7004-9316) to decouple RAFT and HomeBASE benefits so as to allow eligible households to maximize funding from both programs.

Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children Program (line item 4408-1000): Fund at the Senate funding level of $101,538,779. Include House and Senate language to increase monthly grants 20% over FY20 levels, plus Senate language from Outside Sections 48-49 on removing the EAEDC asset limit.

Please include these and other important housing and homelessness priorities (outlined here: https://tinyurl.com/mchfy22) in the final budget. The FY22 budget can be the strongest budget for low-income people to date!

Thank you for your leadership and collaboration.

Sincerely,
[your name will go here]
[your email address will go here] [your location will go here]

Please ask the members of the FY22 Budget Conference Committee and your state legislators to prioritize the Coalition's budget recommendations:

Emergency Assistance (EA) family shelter and services:
- Funding: Provide the House and Senate recommended funding level of $195,885,750, with Senate language to use at least $150,000 to create an independent ombudsperson office within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development for families applying for and participating in EA and HomeBASE
- Language: Include Senate language to create an ombudsperson office and the Senate's expanded tracking and reporting language
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition:
- Funding: Provide the House funding level of $26,725,768 ($22,000,000 in recommended direct appropriations plus $4,725,768 from the Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund)
- Language: Include House language to retain the $10,000 cap on annual benefits for the full fiscal year, and Senate language to decouple RAFT and HomeBASE benefits so as to allow eligible households to maximize funding from both programs
Housing and Services for Youth and Young Adults Experiencing Homelessness:
- Funding: Provide the House and Senate funding level of $8,000,000
Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program:
- Funding: Provide the Senate funding level of $150,000,000 ($129,981,667 in new appropriations plus not less than $20,018,333 in unspent funds from FY21)
- Language: Include Senate language so that voucher holders would not have to pay more than 30% of their income toward rent from current standard of 40% of income, and additional Senate language so that at least 75% of newly issued vouchers would be targeted to households with incomes at or below 30% area median income at time of initial occupancy
HomeBASE:
- Funding: Provide the House and Senate funding level of $25,970,612
- Language: Include Senate language as included in the RAFT line item (7004-9316) to decouple RAFT and HomeBASE benefits so as to allow eligible households to maximize funding from both programs
Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children Program:
- Funding: Provide the Senate funding level of $101,538,779
- Language: Include House and Senate language to increase monthly grants 20% over FY20 levels, plus Senate language from Outside Sections 48-49 on removing the EAEDC asset limit
See the full list of budget recommendations here: https://tinyurl.com/mchfy22

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