March 28, 2022

Greetings!

Thank you to everyone who mobilized last week to reach out to State Senators to ask them to cosponsor and actively support key rental assistance and housing stability amendments to the fiscal year 2022 supplemental budget.

Here is an update on what happened to the amendments during Thursday's debate on Senate Bill 2776 (which became S.2793 at the end of the debate):

  • Increase and strengthen emergency rental assistance resources under the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT, line item 7004-9316)
  • Amendment #16 from Senator Keenan and Amendment #10 from Senator Gomez both would increase supplemental funding for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT) by $100 million to $200 million.
  • Outcomes: Amendment #16 was rejected and Amendment #10 was withdrawn.
  • Amendment #15 from Senator Keenan would restore the RAFT cap to $10,000/household/year from $7,000/household/year.
  • Outcome: Amendment #15 was adopted as redrafted! Click through the link above to see the updated language or see Column I of our Senate amendment chart: https://tinyurl.com/fy22sensupp.
  • Amendment #17 from Senator Keenan would carryover any unspent RAFT funds from FY22 into FY23, to make them available to eligible families and individuals next fiscal year.
  • Outcome: Amendment #17 was withdrawn.
  • Amendment #18 from Senator Keenan would improve tracking and reporting of rental assistance application data, outcomes, and demographics.
  • Outcome: Amendment #18 was adopted as redrafted! Click through the link above to see the updated language or see Column I of our Senate amendment chart: https://tinyurl.com/fy22sensupp.
  • Further extend and strengthen eviction protections under Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2020
  • Amendment #50 from Senator DiDomenico would move Chapter 257 protections upstream and prevent unnecessary eviction filings.
  • Outcome: Amendment #50 was withdrawn.
  • Amendment #9 from Senator Jehlen would close "non-payment" loopholes in Chapter 257 so that more households could benefit from Chapter 257 protections.
  • Outcome: Amendment #9 was adopted as redrafted! Click through the link above to see the updated language or see Column I of our Senate amendment chart: https://tinyurl.com/fy22sensupp.
  • Amendment #8 from Senator Jehlen would extend Chapter 257 protections until a household's pending rental assistance application is approved or denied, instead of leaving the length of the continuance at the discretion of the court.
  • Outcome: Amendment #8 was rejected.
  • Limit Housing Court defaults
  • Amendment #35 from Senator Eldridge would continue the current two-tier system for summary process cases through March 31, 2023 and prohibit defaults during Tier 1 Housing Court events.
  • Outcome: Amendment #35 was withdrawn.
  • Expand resources and supports for low-income homeowners at risk of foreclosure
  • Amendment #33 from Senator Gomez would provide $50 million in supplemental funds to cure arrearages that the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (“HAF”) will not cover and that threaten the displacement of lower-income homeowners in Massachusetts. The funds would be administered by Massachusetts Housing Partnership in conjunction with, and consistent with, the income eligibility requirements of the HAF program, and require notice to at-risk Massachusetts homeowners about the benefits available to help maintain their housing stability. The amendment also would provide a pause on foreclosure activities for homeowners with pending applications for benefits authorized under this provision.
  • Outcome: Amendment #33 was withdrawn.

See our Senate amendment chart for more details and links, and watch recordings of the debate here. Take action with us to strengthen the compromise version of the supplemental budget by following the steps outlined in the box below.

Also see our list of housing equity related requests for the Legislature, as well as our earlier summary of Governor Baker's recommendations for the supp budget, as well as new coverage from CommonWealth Magazine: "Wind down of housing assistance raises concerns"

Thanks for your collaboration and your work to prevent and end homelessness!

In solidarity,
Kelly

Kelly Turley
Associate Director

P.S. Stay up to date with the Coalition’s advocacy initiatives by following us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. (Links also included at the top of this message.)
Take Action Today!

** Now the House and Senate will work out differences between their respective versions of the supplemental budget. Please reach out to your State Representative and Senator today to thank them for their support thus far and ask for their strong and active support to ensure that the final supplemental budget includes the Senate language on:

  • Strengthening emergency rental assistance resources under the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition program (RAFT, line item 7004-9316) by restoring the RAFT cap to $10,000/household/year from $7,000/household/year
  • Closing "non-payment" loopholes in Chapter 257 so that more households can benefit from Chapter 257 eviction protections
  • Improving tracking and reporting of rental assistance application data, outcomes, and demographics

You can find out who your Representative and Senator are and how to contact them by going to www.wheredoivotema.com or calling the State House switchboard at 617-722-2000.

Here is a sample script:

"My name is {name}. I live at {address} in {city/town}. As a constituent, I am asking the {Representative/Senator} to weigh in with Legislative Leadership to actively support key provisions in the pending supplemental budget to restore emergency rental assistance benefit levels and strengthen homelessness prevention efforts, including Senate language on:
  • Restoring the RAFT cap to $10,000/household/year from $7,000/household/year
  • Closing "non-payment" loopholes in Chapter 257 so that more households can benefit from Chapter 257 eviction protections
  • Improving tracking and reporting of rental assistance application data, outcomes, and demographics

These language changes will help promote housing stability for families and individuals across the Commonwealth. Thank you!"

Thank you again for your advocacy!