| Account | Description | FY2014 Spending |
FY2015 GAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7004-0108 | Massachusetts Short Term Housing Transition Program For a program of short-term housing assistance to help families eligible for temporary emergency shelter under item 7004-0101 in addressing obstacles to maintaining or securing housing; provided, that the assistance provided under this item shall include not less than 12 months of housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services for each family receiving benefits hereunder; provided further, that not later than September 1, 2014, the department shall establish a maximum level of short-term housing assistance available to families under this item for a 12-month period; provided further, that until a maximum family benefit is established by the department, the maximum family benefit available shall be $6,000; provided further, that the department shall not establish a maximum level of short-term housing assistance available to families under this item for a 12-month period less than $6,000; provided further, that in establishing a maximum family benefit, the department shall prioritize maximizing diversions and exits from the emergency assistance system; provided further, that the combined sum of benefits received by a family in a 12-month period from this item and item 7004-9316 shall not be more than the maximum level of short-term housing assistance established by the department; provided further, that so long as they meet the requirements of their housing stabilization plan, a family that received household assistance under this item whose income exceeds 50 per cent of area median income shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the 50 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that a family shall not be deemed ineligible as a result of any single violation of a self-sufficiency plan; provided further, that the department shall take all steps necessary to enforce regulations to prevent abuse in the short-term housing transition program including a wage match agreement with the department of revenue; provided further, that a family that was terminated from the program or did not make a good faith effort to follow its housing stabilization plan during the term of its assistance shall be ineligible for benefits under this item and item 7004-0101 for 24 months from the last date the family received assistance under this item and item 7004-0101, including housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services; provided further, that a family's housing stabilization plan shall adequately accommodate the ages and disabilities of the family members; provided further, that families receiving benefits under this program who are found ineligible for continuing benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal under chapter 23B of the General Laws; provided further, that families who are denied assistance under this item may appeal that denial under said chapter 23B, including subsection (F) of section 30 of said chapter 23B and regulations adopted to implement said chapter 23B; provided further, that benefits under this item shall only be provided to residents of the commonwealth who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of the law in the United States; provided further, that the department, as a condition of continued eligibility for assistance under this program, may require disclosure of social security numbers by all members of a family receiving assistance hereunder for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments and executive offices; provided further, that if a family member fails to provide a social security number for use in verifying the family's income and eligibility, then the family shall no longer be eligible to receive benefits from this program; provided further, that the department shall administer this program through the following agencies unless administering agencies are otherwise procured by the department: the Berkshire Housing Development Corporation; Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.; Community Teamwork, Inc.; the Housing Assistance Corporation; the Franklin County Regional Housing and Redevelopment Authority; HAP, Inc.; Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, Inc.; the Lynn Housing Authority and Neighborhood Development; South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.; the South Shore Housing Development Corporation; and RCAP Solutions, Inc.; provided further, that the department shall reallocate financing based on performance-based statistics from under-performing service providers to above average service providers in order to move as many families from hotels, motels, or shelters into more sustainable housing; provided further, that the department shall use funds provided for this program for stabilization workers to focus efforts on housing retention, and link households to supports including job training, education, job search and childcare opportunities available and may enter into agreements with other public and private agencies for the provision of such services, and that a stabilization worker shall be assigned to each household; provided further, that 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 in this item; provided further, that funds shall be used to transition families served by the program to more rapidly move them into temporary or permanent sustainable housing; provided further, notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating or amending any regulations, administrative practice, or policy that would alter eligibility for or the level of benefits under this program to less than the benefit level available on June 30, 2014, the department shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means and the clerks of the house of representatives and senate a report setting forth the justification for such changes, including, but not limited to, any determination by the secretary of housing and economic development that available appropriations will be insufficient to meet projected expenses; and provided further, that the department shall submit quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means, which shall include the number of families served, the type of assistance given, the number of families assisted through this program, the average, minimum and maximum cost per family of such assistance, the current housing stability of each family who received assistance within the prior 12 months and any obstacles encountered with the administration of this program |
58,963,556 | 25,955,535 |