70049024 - Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program

Account Description FY2012
Spending
FY2013
GAA
7004-9024 Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program
For a program of rental assistance for low-income families and elderly persons through mobile and project-based vouchers; provided, that such assistance shall only be paid under a program known as the Massachusetts rental voucher program; provided further, that the income of the households shall not exceed 200 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that the department may award mobile vouchers to eligible households currently occupying project-based units that shall expire due to the nonrenewal of project-based rental assistance contracts; provided further, that the department, as a condition of continued eligibility for vouchers and voucher payments, may require disclosure of social security numbers by participants and members of a participants household in the Massachusetts rental voucher program for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments and executive offices; provided further, that any household in which a participant or member of a participant's household fails to provide a social security number for use in verifying the household's income and eligibility shall no longer be eligible for a voucher or to receive benefits from the voucher program; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the monthly dollar amount of each voucher shall be the department approved monthly rent of the unit less the monthly amount paid for rent by the household; provided further, that any household which is proven to have caused intentional damage to its rental unit in an amount exceeding 2 months of rent during any 1-year period shall be terminated from the program; provided further, that notwithstanding and general or special law to the contrary, a mobile voucher whose use is or has been discontinued shall be re-assigned; provided further, that the department shall pay agencies $32.50 per voucher per month for the costs of administering the program; provided further, that subsidies shall not be reduced due to the cost of inspections; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, each household holding a voucher shall pay at least 30 per cent but not more than 40 per cent of its income as rent; provided further, that the department shall establish the amounts of the mobile vouchers and the project-based vouchers so that the appropriation in this item is not exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the department shall not enter into commitments which shall cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth in this item; provided further, that the department may impose certain obligations for each participant in the Massachusetts rental voucher program through a 12-month contract which shall be executed by the participant and the department; provided further, that such obligations may include, but shall not be limited to, job training, counseling, household budgeting and education, as defined in regulations promulgated by the department and to the extent these programs are available; provided further, that each participant shall be required to undertake and meet these contractually established obligations as a condition for continued eligibility in the program; provided further, that for continued eligibility, each participant shall execute this 12-month contract on or before September 1,2012, if the participant's annual eligibility recertification date occurs between June 30, 2012 and September 1, 2012, and otherwise on or before the annual eligibility recertification date; provided further, that any participant who is over the age of 60 years or who is disabled may be exempt from any obligations unsuitable under particular circumstances; provided further, that no funds shall be expended from this item in the AA object class for the compensation of state employees; provided further, that participating local housing authorities may take all steps necessary to enable them to transfer mobile voucher program participants from the Massachusetts rental voucher program into another housing subsidy program; provided further, that the department of housing and community development shall strive to avoid a reduction in the value of the Massachusetts rental voucher from its value as of June 30, 2012; and provided further, there shall be no less than 500 additional vouchers provided in fiscal year 2013 than fiscal year 2012
36,000,000 42,000,000