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Account	Description	FY07 GAA	FY08 GAA
4403-2120	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 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 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided, however, that any family whose income exceeds 130 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 130 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that the department shall establish reasonable requirements for such families to escrow some or all of the portion of their income which exceeds 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that any such escrowed funds shall be exempt from otherwise applicable asset limits; provided further that the family shall be allowed to 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 not less than $25,000 shall be expended for education, advocacy and case management services by Casa Latina, located in the City of Northampton; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a contract with the St. Francis Samaritan House in Taunton; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for Playspace programs operated by Horizons for Homeless Children in family shelters; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended for Our Fathers House in Fitchburg; provided further, that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Weymouth Youth and Family Services Teen Center to provide for advocacy, social service programs and to promote growth and social welfare; 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 section 16 of chapter 18 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 commissioner 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 health and human services 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 nothing in the preceding proviso shall authorize the department to alter eligibility criteria or benefit levels except to the extent that such changes are needed to avoid a deficiency in this item; provided further, that housing assistance programs that received funding in fiscal year 2007 shall receive funding in fiscal year 2008; provided further, that funds shall be expended for homelessness prevention services and screenings conducted at community health centers; 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; provided further, that the report shall contain the same data required in this item in chapter 139 of the acts of 2006; and provided further, that not less than $179,381 shall be obligated for the Crossroads Family Shelter in East Boston	73,650,000	83,121,534

Note:  Governor's veto was overridden.  Text in red reflects vetoed language.

Veto Explanation: I am striking language which earmarks funding for programs that are beyond the scope of this item and I am reducing the appropriation for this item accordingly.

 
 

HISTORICAL SPENDING CATEGORIES ($000)

SPENDING CATEGORY	FY04 Spending	FY05 Spending	FY06 Spending	FY07 Spending	FY08 GAA
Wages & Salaries	741	2,096	1,358	1,729	1,605
Pensions & Benefits	54	35	65	101	101
Operating Expenses	173	122	983	102	102
Public Assistance	69,298	60,710	67,992	73,396	79,377
Aid to Cities & Towns	292	866	1,674	2,066	1,936
TOTAL	70,559	63,828	72,072	77,393	83,122

* FY07 Projected Spending includes the budget plus nearly $1 billion in spending from FY06 supplemental budgets.

 

 

Earmarks

EARMARK DESCRIPTION	FY08
Casa Latina for Education and Advocacy	25,000
Crossroads Family Shelter	179,381
Playspace Programs at Horizons for Homeless Children	100,000
Weymouth Youth & Family Services Teen Center	50,000