MRVP Payment Standards Effective 1/1/23

Hello MRVP Administrators,

As required in the FY23 budget, DHCD is releasing MRVP guidance that will:

• Move MRVP to a payment standard model for mobile vouchers;
• Lower tenant rent share to 30% of net income for project based vouchers;
• Include a utility allowance for both mobile and project based vouchers; and
• Update the process of terminating a mobile lease.

Please click the "MRVP Payment Standard Guidance" button at the top of the email or below to download and read the guidance. Additional documents related to the new guidance are linked below. Documents will be posted to the LHA and RAA portals. Over the coming week, DHCD will also post the guidance and documents to the MRVP website and add notes into the existing 2017 Administrative Plan.

All changes to the calculation of tenant rent share will be effective the first time tenant rent share is re-calculated for any reason on or after January 1, 2023. We have released unlocked calculation sheets to your software vendors.

The attached guidance also includes the following policies, which are effective immediately, August 3, 2022:

• Changing vital document requirements, including the ability to self-attest that an applicant/participant cannot obtain a government-issued photo ID;
• Accepting annual benefit letter for SSI and SSDI if there are no other income changes; and
• No longer requiring bank statements if a household self-attests to less than $5,000 in assets.

To help you better understand and administer immediate changes to MRVP, we are offering three on-line trainings. It is recommended that at least one staff member from your agency attend a training. All three MRVP Training Sessions are identical, and you only need to attend one. Please select one training time below to register via Zoom.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns, please contact Cecilia Woodworth at cecilia.woodworth@mass.gov.

Thank you,

Cecilia Woodworth

Assistant Director, State Programs

Division of Rental Assistance

cecilia.woodworth@mass.gov

617-573-1141