Increasing Affordable Housing and Preventing Homeless

Housing costs are getting out of control.  Home prices and rent are sky rocketing, making it more and more difficult for residents to keep and find housing.  To prevent homelessness, we need to increase our state’s supply of affordable housing and adequately fund housing assistance programs.

As state representative, Rep. Stanley works closely with members of the Joint Committee on Housing advocating on behalf of housing and homelessness programs in the Commonwealth.   Rep. Stanley supports efforts to create safe affordable housing and expand services for our most vulnerable residents including low-income seniors, veterans, families and individuals with disabilities.  He also supports efforts to prevent and end homelessness through his support of programs that provides individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness with shelter, housing search and stabilization services.

Rep. Stanley frequently sponsors and cosponsors legislation that support the state’s housing and homeless programs. He speaks on behalf of important line items related to housing and homeless budget priorities.

In the 2015-2016 legislative session, Rep. Stanley and his colleagues in the House continued to enact effective programs to combat homelessness. As of March 31, 2016, Massachusetts’ shelter population fell below 4,000 for the first time since August of 2013; and the number of families in hotels and motels has dropped by more than 1,500.

He supported the following programs and line items in the fiscal year 2017 House budget:

HOUSING PROGRAMS

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) | $100M (7004-9024):  A $9M increase over the FY16 GAA funding level. The Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program provides low income families with project and tenant based vouchers that can be used in the private rental market. This increase in funding will create up to 375 new vouchers in addition to the approximately 7,500 vouchers already leased.

Alternative Housing Voucher Program | $5.1M (7004-9030):  An increase of $500K over the FY16 GAA funding level. The Alternative Housing Voucher Program provides low income individuals with disabilities under age 60 with tenant based rental assistance. This increase in funding will create new vouchers in addition to the approximately 550 vouchers already available.

Public Housing Authority Operating Subsidy | $65.5M (7004-9005):  A $1M increase over the FY16 GAA funding level. Local housing authorities provide affordable housing to our most vulnerable residents including low-income seniors, veterans, families, and individuals with disabilities.

Public Housing Reform Implementation | $800,000 (7004-9007):  Maintained funding for the administration’s implementation of Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014.

Housing Consumer Education Centers (HCECs) | $2.6M (7004-3036):  Maintained funding for the Housing Consumer Education Centers which allow households to access housing services and counseling. Grants are given to nine regional nonprofit agencies.

Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) | $12.5M (7004-9316):  Maintained funding for the RAFT program which provides families with up to $4,000 per 12 month period to maintain housing or move into permanent housing.

HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS

Emergency Assistance Family Shelters | $155.1M (7004-0101): Maintained funding for the Emergency Assistance program which provides families experiencing homelessness with shelter, housing search, and stabilization services.

Homeless Individuals Assistance | $44.9M (7004-0102):  Maintained funding for the Homeless Individuals Assistance program which helps individuals who are homeless or in danger of becoming homeless.

Home and Healthy for Good | $2.3M (7004-0104): A $500K increase over the FY16 GAA funding level. This program pairs housing placement with intensive case management for chronically homeless individuals.

Unaccompanied Homeless Youth | $1M (4000-0007): Restored $1M in funding for unaccompanied homeless youth.

HomeBASE | $31.9M (7004-0108):  Maintained funding for the HomeBASE program which provides families with up to $8,000 per 12 month period. This short-term household assistance provides stabilization services and financial assistance to pay rent, utility bills, security deposits, and other expenses that allow families to avoid the shelter system or transition out of shelter.