70040101 - Emergency Assistance - Family Shelters and Services

Account Description FY2009
Spending
FY2010
GAA
7004-0101 Emergency Assistance - Family Shelters and Services
For certain expenses of the emergency assistance program as follows: (i) contracted family shelters; (ii) transitional housing programs; (iii) programs to reduce homelessness in Barnstable, Dukes, Hampden and Nantucket counties; (iv) residential education centers for single mothers with children; (v) intake centers; and (vi) voucher shelters; provided, that eligibility shall be limited to families with income at or below 115 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that families with income greater than 115 per cent but not exceeding 130 per cent of the federal poverty level that received services on or before June 30, 2009 from this item shall remain eligible for services in fiscal year 2010; provided further, however, that any family whose income exceeds 115 per cent of the federal poverty level while the family is receiving assistance funded by this item shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the 115 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that the department shall establish reasonable requirements for such families to escrow a portion of their income; provided further, that any such escrowed funds shall be exempt from otherwise applicable asset limits; provided further, that the family may withdraw the amount placed in escrow upon transition to permanent housing or losing eligibility for shelter services; provided further, that benefits under this item shall be provided only to residents who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of law in the United States; provided further, that the department shall take all steps necessary to enforce regulations to prevent abuse in the emergency assistance program; provided further, that no emergency assistance expenditures shall be paid from this item unless explicitly authorized; provided further, that eligible households shall be placed in shelters as close as possible to their home community unless a household requests otherwise; provided further, that if the closest available placement is not within 20 miles of the household's home community, the household shall be transferred to an appropriate shelter within 20 miles of its home community at the earliest possible date unless the household requests otherwise; provided further, that eligibility for shelter by an otherwise eligible family shall not be impaired by prior receipt of any non-shelter benefit; provided further, that the department shall make every effort to ensure that children receiving services from this item shall continue attending school in the community in which they lived prior to receiving services funded from this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall immediately provide shelter for up to 30 days to families who appear to be eligible for such shelter based on statements provided by the family and any other information in the possession of the department but who need additional time to obtain any third-party verifications reasonably required by the department; provided further, that shelter benefits received under the preceding proviso shall not render a family ineligible under any regulation providing that a family who previously received shelter is ineligible for shelter benefits for a period of 12 months; provided further, that families receiving such shelter benefits who are found not to be eligible for continuing shelter benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal pursuant to chapter 23B of the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall not impose unreasonable requirements for third-party verification and shall accept verifications from the family whenever reasonable; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits under this program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure in this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating any such eligibility or benefit changes, the undersecretary shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a determination by the secretary of the executive office of housing and economic development that available appropriations for the program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses and a report setting forth such proposed changes; provided further, that all of this item shall be subject to appropriation and, in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated by this item; provided further, that the department shall report quarterly to the house and senate committees on ways and means on the emergency assistance family shelter program; and provided further, that the report shall contain the same data required in item 4403-2120 of section 2 of chapter 139 of the acts of 2006

0 91,605,510

Veto Explanation:  I am striking language because it places requirements on the agency that are unduly burdensome.

Budget Reduction Explanation:   Reduces appropriation corresponding to manager furlough savings.