The legislature passed a supplemental budget last year leading to funding for a Human Services Salary Reserve, which provides a modest increase in income for direct service workers earning below $40,000 annually. Workers, however, must be working for a program contracted by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services or the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. Because family shelters are contracted by the Department of Housing and Community Development, which is located under the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, those working in the shelter system making under $40,000 are ineligible and cannot access this benefit.
This resulted from the transition of the shelter system from DTA to DHCD, and when the legislation for the salary reserve was written, DHCD was left out. The Provider’s Council who advocates for the salary reserve is working to include workers in both the individual and family shelter systems in FY13.
For more information see the links below or contact Jeff Connor-Naylor at 617-227-4188 or jnaylor@homesforfamilies.org.
Click here to go to the Provider’s Council website.
Click here to go to the state website about the salary reserve.
