MRVP Cookie Day 2018

Once again Homes for Families & partners rocked the house in the name of MRVP (Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program). The spirit of advocacy filled the air and halls of the Massachusetts State House as families, providers, and advocates raised awareness and demanded housing.

Representation from across the state from more than 200 folks with a shared message made MRVP Cookie Day an event that unified everyone who was participating. More than 100 attendees hand-delivered messages to their legislators for increased funding for MRVP. This day of action is one that has a history of significant positive impact and could potentially, once again, have an important impact on this year’s state budget by way of increased investments to MRVP.

Chairman Honan and Chairman Boncore, co-chairs of the Joint Committee on Housing and co-sponsors of Cookie Day, began the day by emphasizing the importance of MRVP and the power of families’ stories for affecting change.

“There’s no one here who knows the significance of MRVP more than the families who use it.”

-Chairman Honan

“There’s nothing that means more to me than the individual stories of families who have been helped by MRVP.”

-Chairman Boncore

We were joined by Commissioner Bharel from the Department of Public Health, who spoke about the relationship between housing and health, making a clear case for stable housing as the foundation to healthy communities families and children.

“The power of place, where we access what we need for how we live, matters so much.”

-Commissioner Bharel, MD, MPH

We heard from families who spoke to both the need for housing and the overwhelmingly positive impact that being housed provides.

The first family shared a powerful picture of what it means to be a survivor of domestic violence, trying to run with absolutely no where to go because housing is inaccessible and unaffordable, what that instability has done to her family and how an MRVP voucher could move her and her children from a place of trauma and devastation to a place of safety, security, and wellness.

“As for me I don’t know what I’m going to do…getting completely housing stable or becoming homeless again mean two drastically different things for my family. I cannot handle the thought of the three of us bouncing around or being in shelter.”

-Shanda

The second family was an inspiration to us all as she shared her message of hope after housing. Meshell’s recent move into permanent housing meant that her son, who suffers from a list of chronic conditions, finally has a space that is customized to his health needs and the type of round-the-clock care that he needs. In her update Meshell shared that, as a result of her new living conditions, her son is showing major improvements to his development. Meshell also shared how now that she is housed, she will be able to return to school in the fall to pursue a psychology degree.

“I can actually set aside time to work on myself. My main areas of focus now that housing is all set are education, financial stability, and self care…but, I also feel that it is really important to recognize that thousands of families have been shut out of this same kind of opportunity because they cannot access a housing subsidy.”

-Meshell

The Big Cookie, which Homes for Families has given for nearly a decade with the purpose of recognizing partners & elected officials who have shown themselves to be champions in their commitment to ending family homelessness, was awarded to Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay for her efforts and gains in the work to end family homelessness across the state.

A big thank you to everyone who attended Cookie Day, including:

More than 50 parents and children

More than 80 shelter provider staff

14 State Senators and Reps or their staff

Our speakers:

            Rep. Kevin Honan

            Sen. Joe Boncore

            Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH

            Shanda

            Meshell

            Outgoing Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay

Resource fair contributors:

            Casa Myrna

            Children’s Health Watch / Witness to Hunger

            Jane Doe Inc.

            ABCD

            BARCC

What happened to MRVP Funding??

And an advocacy opportunity.

In the early 1990’s funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program was $120 million.  Funding for the program was slashed in the 1990’s down to $24 million, and the homelessness crisis was exacerbated. Homes for Families, together with the Housing Solutions Campaign, has been advocating to restore the funding to this crucial program.  In a ten year span, from FY2006 to FY2016, funding was increased from $26M to $91M (an increase of 345%!), and $29M short of full restoration.

In FY16, MRVP vouchers played a critical role in the reduction of the number of families in motels across the Commonwealth, in housing homeless veterans, and in increasing the stock of project based supportive housing.

Advocacy began for full restoration to $120M in the FY17 Budget.  The House and Senate each proposed about $100M, a solid allocation that would allow some program fixes and new vouchers. Currently, the line amount listed for MRVP is $82,391,587.

So, what happened?

The simple answer is: a decline in state revenues.

The complicated answer is: the FY17 allocation depended on about $14M in surplus – or unspent – MRVP funding from FY16; and all line item surpluses were recouped to cover FY16 expenses

The analogy is: It is kind of like planning to use your tax return  to buy X, pay Y, or save for Z, and then your car breaks down or you have to move, and now there is no money left for X, Y, or Z.

The long answer is:

• In FY16 MRVP received an increase of $26M. While this is a substantial increase, much of the funding was needed to maintain vouchers and project based units brought on in the prior year(s) and make program fixes, such as increasing the Fair Market Rent cap.  However, there was enough funding for new vouchers.   Distribution of the new vouchers did not begin until late fall, meaning that may vouchers were not leased up until the second half of the fiscal year, leaving surplus funding.
• When the Governor released his budget proposal in February, he proposed $82.9M, but also included language in his mid year FY16 Supplemental Budget proposal to carry over surplus FY16 MRVP funds to FY17. This language was not included in the Supp Budget passed by the legislature, but the message was received.
• The House proposed an even $100M with the following stipulation, “that the total amount appropriated and re-appropriated under this item shall include unexpended funds up to $14,652,294 appropriated for this item in fiscal year 2016 which shall not revert, but shall be made available for purposes of this item for fiscal year 2017”
• The Senate proposed $100,083,891 and also included the same stipulation, which is often referred to as PAC language, or Prior Appropriation Continued. The Senate also included language to require DHCD to being distributing vouchers immediately, as one step for more fiscal efficiency
• In June, the Conference Committee was working out their compromises – on MRVP, there was only a slight difference in funding and the distribution requirement to resolve. BUT, then those tax receipts came back low and the Governor had a problem; the budget needed to be balanced, so all surpluses – including the unspent MRVP funds slated to be used in FY17 – were reverted to balance the books.
• The PAC language was no longer relevant, because there were no  funds to revert, leaving the line item with $85,083,891.
• Then the bad revenue news continued and the Governor proposed more vetoes, cutting MRVP down to $82,3M, essentially a $7.8M cut to the program.

What now?

We need to preserve every penny of this program; we know housing subsidies are the most effective tool to reduce homelessness.  Right now, we can ask the House of Representatives to please take the first step by overriding the Governor’s veto.  Click here to look up your Representative’s contact information.

“I am contacting your office to urge that the legislature override the veto of $2M to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, 7004-9024”

What next?

We will be meeting with DHCD and Housing Solution Campaign members to determine the impact of this cut and what may be possible to restore funding.

Then, we will urge the Legislature to consider restoring the program to FY16 level funding of $90M through the Supplemental Budget process. We are figuring out what is ‘sup with that now and will let the cyber-world know if there are advocacy opportunities.

– LH

PS: Since I used the word “slash” in the introductory paragraph and Guns N’ Roses is in town, I will leave you with this – the lyrics that are almost relevant.

 

The Senate Amendment Edition

Today, the Senate will begin debating the 1,167 amendments to determine which ones will help to build a more resilient Commonwealth.

We found about 50 that directly or indirectly relate to family homelessness; including earmarks or money for particular programs or initiatives (including one for HFF), others that could negatively impact families or the system, and others that could make a positive impact.  To review this full list, click here.

To review the HFF Priority List click here.

Here is a list of the co-sponsors from the the MRVP and HomeBASE Amendments:

MRVP: Ms. Forry, Mr. Moore, Ms. Lovely, Ms. L’Italien, Messrs. Lewis, Barrett and Eldridge, Ms. Chang-Diaz, Messrs. Donnelly, Joyce, Brownsberger and McGee, Ms. Donoghue and Ms. Gobi

HomeBASE: Ms. Chang-Diaz, Ms. L’Italien, Mr. Eldridge, Ms. Forry and Ms. Donoghue

Don’t forget to follow along on Twitter; we are @HFFma and will be using joining the #SenBudget conversation.  Retweets and quoted tweets are encouraged! Let’s amplify #OurVoice

The SWM Budget and Key Programs Relative to Family Homelesness

The Senate Ways and Means Budget was released on Tuesday afternoon.  The budget proposal, entitled INVESTING FOR A RESILIENT COMMONWEALTH, begins with a message from Chairwoman Karen Spilka about resiliency:

Resilience is most often defined as the ability to achieve a good outcome in the face of adversity. Resilience can—and must—be built on a community-by-community and statewide basis, but there is no more important place to plant the seed of resilience than within our children. Strong, resilient children will grow up to be active contributors to a productive and thriving Commonwealth.

The Executive Summary gives an overview of the allocations by category with some of the reasoning of the committee:

 Stable, safe housing is critical for family wellbeing and the physical, emotional and educational success of children. In line with the mission of the Special Senate Committee on Housing, this budget invests $441M in low income and homelessness programs to help connect individuals, families and vulnerable populations with housing and supportive services, key foundations for resilience at all ages.

And notes regarding specific investments or initiatives:

As recommended by the Special Senate Committee on Housing, this budget requires the Executive Offices of Housing and Economic Development, Health and Human Services, Labor and Workforce Development and Education to enter into a memorandum of understanding to identify cross-agency solutions to the challenges faced by low income Massachusetts residents at risk of homelessness.

image screenshot from https://malegislature.gov/Budget/FY2017/Senate Click to enlarge

 

Program funding is listed, by line item, in the allocation section. Below are the key programs impacting families experiencing homelessness, listed with the proposed funding level, language, and key amendments. We will compile a full list of relative amendments when they are filed.

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (7004-9024)

SWM Proposed Funding Amount: $100,083,891

SWM Proposed Language: Adds reporting language and elimination of some technical changes related to program administration

Amendment: Housing Chair Linda Dorcena Forry’s amendment #779 proposed to increase funding to $120 million and make important adjustments to the program, including: establishing the Fair Market Rent (FMR) Cap at the current FMR; establishing a data management system; and mandating rapid voucher distribution.  Click here for our MRVP Action Alert.  Let your Senator know it is #779!

Emergency Assistance (7004-0101)

SWM Proposed Funding: $155,058,948

SWM Proposed Language: Includes language that families at imminent risk of homelessness would be eligible for shelter; increases advance notice language from 60 to 90 days; reduces reporting requirements

Amendment: Senator Jason Lewis’s Amendment #669 will increase reporting requirements to include the reasons why families are determined not eligible for EA and basic demographic information

 

HomeBASE (7004-0108)

SWM Proposed Funding: $31,943,664

SWM Proposed Language: Includes increased access to families in domestic violence and substance abuse family sober living programs

Amendment: Senator Sonia Chang Diaz’s amendment #426 will increase funding to $39,200,000; remove the funding cap for the expansion to domestic violence and substance abuse program residents and clarify eligibility for participants in those programs; and add language for voucher renewal

Other Useful Information

For more information about the Senate Ways and Means Budget Relative to Housing, please click the links for CHAPA’s full analysis and amendment list.

For more information on selected programs related to benefits, child welfare, housing and homelessness from Mass Law Reform Institute, click here

For a full analysis from Mass Budget and Policy Center, click here

Thank you to our partners in the advocacy community for this great work!

For tips of navigating the list of amendments, refer back to our blog post on the House Amendments; the Senate Amendments are a bit easier to navigate as they are listed by category.

And thank you, yes YOU, for your advocacy on these key issues!

LH

PS: Bonus thanks to any retweets of our #SenBudget tweets on Twitter! 

Get Ready, Get Set, Go Advocate!!

Summary of Key Line Items and Amendments Relative to Housing and Homelessness

Yesterday, the House Committee on Ways and Means released their FY2017 Budget Proposal. Representatives have until mid-day tomorrow, Friday 4/15, to file amendments.

Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP, line item 7004-9024)

The HWM FY2017 budget proposal funds MRVP at $100 million, which includes carry over funding unspent in FY2016.  However, this funding level is not sufficient to cover the cost of new vouchers and needed program fixes.

Amendment #52 filed by Representative Paul Donato: increases funding for MRVP to $120 million. To co-sponsor this amendment, representatives or the their staff can sign on using the LAWS system.

Amendment to be filed by Representative Sean Garballey: aligns MRVP mobile voucher rent cap with current HUD FMRs, allows for a data management system and requires DHCD to begin issuing new vouchers. To co-sponsor this amendment, representatives, or their staff, should contact John Rosenberry in Rep. Garballey’s office.  

 

Emergency Assistance (EA, family shelter, line item 7004-0101)

The HWM FY2017 budget proposal funded EA at $155.1 million and made no changes to eligibility for the program.

Amendment to be filed by Representative Marjorie Decker: allows access to shelter for families who are at imminent risk of staying places not meant for human habitation.  To co-sponsor this amendment, representatives, or their staff, should contact Tim Mahoney in Rep. Decker’s office.

Amendment to be filed by Representative Danielle Gregoire: requires DHCD to report certain data tracking points to the Legislature, including basic demographics of families experiencing homelessness and reasons that families are denied access to shelter. To co-sponsor this amendment, representatives, or their staff, should contact Jennifer Mercadante in Rep. Gregoire’s office. 

Amendment #66 filed by Representative Adrian Madaro: continues funding for Homes for Families to provide technical assistance. To co-sponsor this amendment, representatives or the their staff can sign on using the LAWS system.

HomeBASE (line item 7004-0108)

The HWM FY2017 budget proposal funds HomeBASE at $31.9 million, a slight increase over current funding. It also opens access to a limited amount of funding to families experiencing homelessness who are sheltered in domestic violence or treatment facilities.

Amendment to be filed by Representative Christine Barber: This amendment builds off of the pilot program proposed in the budget to make HomeBASE available to income-eligible families in domestic violence and substance abuse programs. The amendment also allows families to renew HomeBASE in order to avoid evictions, loss of housing stability, or the need to re-enter shelter, and the amendment continues forward funding of the program to the nonprofit organizations that administer HomeBASE on behalf of the state. To co-sponsor this amendment, representatives or the their staff can sign on using the LAWS system.

 

Other Amendments:

Earned Income Tax Credit Amendments Sponsored By Representative Decker

• To increase the Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) from 23% to 50% of the federal credit
• To allow victims of DV to be eligible for the credit and direct the Department of Revenue to increase EITC outreach.

To co-sponsor this amendment, representatives or their staff should contact Tim Mahoney in Representative Decker’s office

Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) Work Study Amendment sponsored by Representative Sannicandro
This amendment provides $2.35 million to fund paid work study for families on TAFDC at community colleges and to pay for staff to help these students succeed in college.

To cosponsor this amendment, representatives or their staff can contact Becca Miller at Rebecca.Miller@mahouse.gov or 722-2013 by noon on Friday

Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund (DWD 7002-1074) Amendment sponsored by Representative Wagner
This amendment to provide $4 million to support sector orientated workforce training that reflects best practices in workforce development including collaborations between employers, education programs and community based organizations.

To cosponsor this amendment, representatives or their staff can contact Rory O’Hanlon at Rory.O’Hanlon@mahouse.gov or 722-2370

TAFDC Job Search Amendment sponsored by Representative Cabral               

This amendment requires proof of job search 60 days from application in order to be eligible for benefits.

To cosponsor amendment, representatives or their staff can contact Al Medeiros at Alves.Medeiros@mahouse.gov or 722-2017

Please stay tuned for more analysis and amendment information over the next two weeks.

In the meantime, we encourage you to follow along on the State’s Budget Page, read MLRI’s full budget analysis, and review the chart below with funding in key line items.

Click on the Picture to Enlarge

LH

 

45; 60; 87.5; 100; 120

Cookie Credit: Haley House

These cookies represent so much more than the than the seemingly random numbers and repetition of 4 letters that decorate them.

They represent a movement.

They represent thousands of formerly homeless children and parents that now are stable in homes they can afford.

They represent the hundreds of individuals and families now accessing supportive housing to assist with wrap around services to aid in their success.

They represent the thousands of elders who rely on this lifeline to afford rent, and maintain a life of dignity.

They represent the scores of our local veterans experiencing homelessness who right now have vouchers in hand and are seeking a place to call their own.

They represent the preservation of affordable housing units where developers might otherwise jump ship after the federal government decided its affordable housing agenda shouldn’t include so much affordable housing.

They represent a coalition of homeless and formerly homeless families and individuals, shelter and service providers, advocates, scholars, researchers, medical professionals, those in faith, elected officials, and so many more.

Please join us at MRVP Cookie Day this Thursday at 10 a.m. in the Great Hall at the State House in Boston as we make our request to the MA Legislature for full restoration back to early 1990’s spending on the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program at $120 million.

-DS

We raised #OurVoice for more housing!

We gave testimony in front of the Joint Committee on Housing.  Here is what we said:

September 29, 2015

Good morning and thank you Chairwoman Dorcena-Forry and Chairman Honan and members of the Committee.  My name is Libby Hayes, executive director of Homes for Families.   I am here today to testify in support of House Bill 1111: An Act Relative to Housing Production sponsored by Chairman Honan.

First I would like to thank the Chairman, this committee and the legislature for your commitment to restoring the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program and for maintaining the safety net for families that are victims of our housing market’s impossibilities.  MRVP is one of the most critical tools to address the housing affordability crisis in the Commonwealth.  However, MRVP alone cannot solve it.  We simply do not have enough units to house the people of the Commonwealth.  This bill aims to change that.

As the Pope so clearly articulated last week, “We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing,” 

Yet, here we are –  with:

• a need of 17,000 new units per year to meet housing demand and sustain our economy;
• over 229,000 Massachusetts households are paying more than 50% of their income to rent;
• over 10,000 families per year applying for emergency shelter;
• 19,515 students in the MA school system were identified as homeless last academic year;
• 1,245 families are living in roadside motels because our family shelters are full

We recently released a report synthesizing information from surveys taken by family shelter providers.  The number one barrier to re identified was the lack of affordable housing. Each summer Homes for Families hosts an event which convenes families from shelters and motels from across the state, to discuss solutions to homelessness. This year, like each year before, participant recognize housing as the number one solution.

According to Enterprise Community Partners and Harvard’s Joint Center on Housing Studies. The number of U.S. households that spend at least half their income on rent—the “severely cost-burdened,”—could increase 25 percent over the next decade.  Last week, the Boston Foundation’s 2015 indicator’s report shared that more than 85 percent of the positions added to the Boston economy since 2009 pay less than $38,000 a year – a big gap from the over $60,000 per year needed for a family to be housing and economically stable.

Rent continues to outpace wages at a rapid rate.  Rent increases are also outpacing voucher limits.  We often hear legislators say that their number one constituent call is related to housing.  In my office, we have had an increase in calls from families with vouchers in hand that cannot find an apartment that meets the qualifications. 

Here is our reality in the Commonwealth:  right now we have a housing crisis caused by a lack of housing stock and a vast gap between wages and rent.  Recent reports show that dynamics will only get worse. As a result, our homelessness crisis will only increase.  The housing stability forecast for the lowest income families – and children – in the Commonwealth is grim.

But there is good news – we know the path we are on, we are aware of the dynamics at play, and we have the collective ability to turn towards solutions.  Housing Solutions.  We know housing construction has a multiplier effect on the economy.  We know stable housing leads to better health outcomes, and leads families on a path to economic mobility. And we know that there is resistance to building and multifamily housing….but there is also resistance to motels.

Housing is the foundation. – for families, for stability, and for a thriving Commonwealth – and to ending our family homelessness crisis.  We need the physical housing structures – and for families to have either the subsidies and/or wages to achieve housing stability.  Massachusetts has a choice – to continue to manage the crisis or to start solving the dynamics that have caused it. This bill is the foundation for solution. This bill provides the tools to build the housing we need.

We agree with Pope Francis, “We can find no social or moral justification, no justification whatsoever, for lack of housing,” and hope this committee reports favorably on the Act Relative to Housing Production.

LH

MA Legislature Restores $3M to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)

Yesterday, both the House and Senate met in formation session on Beacon Hill.  On the agenda: veto overrides.

As you know, Governor Baker recommended reducing funding for MRVP in FY2016 from $90.9 million to $87.9 million. The Legislature has once again reinforced its support for MRVP by overwhelmingly overriding the veto and funding MRVP at the full $90.9 million.

Thank you for contacting your legislators to ensure they took this necessary step toward a full restoration of MRVP funding. Your calls truly make a difference in the shaping of the state budget and how that impacts the families we work with and the programs you run. In this work, it is not often that we take a moment to celebrate a victory because we move quickly onto the next task at hand.

Please take a moment to celebrate this victory with us and your elected officials by making 2 more calls- one to your State Representative and one to your State Senator- to say thank you.

And if you haven’t already done so, you can use this opportunity to remind them of another concern with Governor Baker’s recent proposal to further restrict access to family shelter. Below is a sample script you can use:

“Hi. My name is _______________, and I live/work in _____________. I am calling to thank the Representative/Senator for overriding the Governor’s veto of $3 million to the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program. This funding will allow the state to continue its work to create desperately-needed affordable housing across the state.

The Governor has also proposed further restricting access to emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness. His supplemental budget would deny access to families who are otherwise eligible and staying in places unfit for human habitation or in irregular housing situations. Please do not adopt these restrictions when passing the supplemental budget.”

If you are uncertain of how to contact your elected officials, click here.

Again- thank all of you for raising your voices! Because of your voice, progress is possible!

Help Stop the Governor’s Proposal to Restrict Access to Shelter and Cut MRVP

While many have taken to the beach or a lake to cool off from this week’s summer heat, folks on Beacon Hill are still hard at work, as they attempt to close out the state’s FY2015 budget and finalize the FY2016 budget. You might be scratching your head and thinking, “hey wait, FY2015 ended June 30^th and Governor Baker signed the FY2016 budget into law, soooooo… what’s this all about?

Actually, you’d be right. Both of those have come and gone, yet there remains some open business for our elected officials to handle before they break out of official session on July 31^st. Here are the deets:

MRVP and the FY2016 Budget

 

screen shot from https://malegislature.gov/Budget/Process

The final FY2016 Conference Committee budget voted on by the MA Legislature funded the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program at $90.9 million, which would allow for approximately 800 new MRVP vouchers. Unfortunately, Governor Baker vetoed $3 million from the line item which would result in the loss of 300 of these vouchers. As you know, we cannot afford to forfeit even one voucher to budget cuts.

Please take a moment to contact both your State Representative and State Senator to ask that they override the MRVP veto. If you are uncertain how to contact your elected officials, click here. Below is a script for you to use:

“Hi. My name is ________________, and I live/work in __________________. I am calling to ask my representative/senator to work to override Governor Patrick’s veto of $3 million to MRVP and restore funding to $90.9 million for FY2016.

 

I support MRVP because: ___________________________________________________________.”

 

EA and the FY2015 Supplemental Budget

In his supplemental budget proposal to close out the FY2015 budget, Governor Baker inserts language that would change the regulations that determine access to Emergency Assistance, or family shelter in the 2016 fiscal year.     If supported by the legislature, families who are staying in units  unfit for human habitation and those in irregular housing situations would no longer be eligible for shelter.

Both the House and Senate rejected the governor’s attempt to bring these same restrictions through the state budget process. We are in communication with Legislative leadership to ensure that the state does not implement further restrictions by keeping this harmful language out of the final version of the supplemental budget. In the meantime, you can help by calling the governor’s office at 617.725.4005 and asking that he remove this harmful language from his proposal. Here is a sample script you can use:

“Hi. My name is _______________ , and I live/work in ________________ . I am calling to ask that Governor Baker reconsider Section 30 his supplemental budget proposal to further restrict access to homeless families applying for shelter. Please ask him to remove the language that would turn away children staying in places unfit for human habitation and in irregular housing situations from shelter in his FY2015 supplemental budget.

 

This issue matters to me because: _________________________________________________.”

Whether you are a family who is experiencing homelessness, have struggled to obtain shelter, a provider working with families in these situations or an otherwise concerned stakeholder, please share your concerns with Governor Baker. It is our voice that needs to be heard!!

DS

The Conference Committee Budget Recommendations: In word form, and in chart form.

Yesterday, the MA Legislative FY2016 Conference Committee released its final budget recommendations.

We have provided an analysis of our primary and secondary priorities.

Here it is in word form: 

Governor Baker now has 10 days to take action by signing the budget into law, vetoing the entire budget or vetoing line items within the budget.

Perhaps most noteworthy is the significant restoration of funding to the MA Rental Voucher Program which would be funded at $91 million in FY2016. This will maintain the current number of vouchers in use and will allow for the release of approximately 800 new vouchers. Along with members of the Housing Solutions Campaign, we will be meeting with folks from DHCD next week to discuss and make recommendations for a distribution plan for these new vouchers. Click here to view a recent letter sent to DHCD Undersecretary Chrystal Kornegay highlighting these recommendations.

Also of note, eligibility for Emergency Assistance (EA, family shelter) remains the same. HomeBASE funding was increased to $31.2 million, allowing for families to access up to $8,000 to assist with moving out of shelter. While funding for TAFDC was decreased due to a decline in the caseload, the clothing allowance was increased to $200 per child.

And here is the analysis in chart form:

We again want to take the opportunity to thank you all for your incredible advocacy work. Whether it is attending HFF meetings, coming to one of our advocacy events, or making calls and visits to your legislators, it is your work that continues to educate legislators on the importance of investing in policies and programs that support homeless and at-risk families. Please take a moment to celebrate these victories – we sure have!