Quick Links
- Statewide Summary
- All Account Listing
- Local Aid - Section 3
- Outside Sections
- Downloads
- Navigation Guide
- Budget Glossary
- Helpful Links
70040108 - Massachusetts Short Term Housing Transition Program
Data Current as of: 7/11/2011
| Account | Description | FY2011 Spending |
FY2012 GAA |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7004-0108 | Massachusetts Short Term Housing Transition Program For a program of short-term housing assistance for: (i) families eligible for temporary emergency shelter under section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws and; (ii) families eligible for temporary emergency shelter under section 30 of chapter 23B, but for the fact that they are imminently at risk of becoming homeless; and (iii) families in which the head of household is not more than 21 years of age at the time of application for assistance and who have exited a young families congregate shelter funded under item 7004-0101; provided, that the assistance provided under this item shall include housing stabilization and economic self-sufficiency case management services for each family receiving benefits hereunder; provided further, that the assistance may include, but shall not be limited to: payments of rent and utility arrears; a portion of the household's monthly rent, first month's rent, last month's rent, security deposit, utility charges, extraordinary medical bills, so long as such assistance will maintain housing for the family, and shall include immediate temporary housing arrangements for families without alternative feasible housing; provided further, that assistance towards a portion of the household's monthly rent shall be an eligible use of funds hereunder only in the event that the monthly rent for the housing does not exceed 80 per cent of the fair market rent for such housing, as determined in accordance with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided further, that the department shall allow for a higher monthly rent in the event that a household already housed, that is transitioning to this program from another time-limited assistance program, would be displaced due to the restriction on fair market rent; provided further, that the department may exceed 80 per cent of the fair market rent if the department determines that such placement is cost-effective and meets the short-term housing needs of eligible families in a timely manner; provided further, that eligible families shall pay no more than 35 per cent of household income towards rent and utilities; provided further, that a family's eligibility for assistance provided hereunder shall not exceed a period of 36 successive months from the date the family receives assistance hereunder, not including time spent in temporary accommodations; provided further, that a family that is terminated from the program because it has received 36 successive months of assistance shall not be able to receive assistance hereunder for 12 months from the last date it received assistance through this program; provided further, that for the initial 12 month period for which the family receives assistance hereunder, payments shall not exceed: (1) $4,000; or (2) if assistance is used for a portion of the household's monthly rent and utility costs, the difference between 35 per cent of household income and the monthly cost of rent and utilities for such housing; provided further, that administering agency shall also be able to make payments toward temporary accommodations for the family prior to the family securing a rental housing unit with assistance hereunder; provided further, that such assistance shall be reduced by: (1) 5 per cent for each of the next 12-month periods for which the family receives assistance hereunder, or (2) such lesser amount as maintains the eligible family's contribution towards rent and utilities at not more than 35 per cent of household income; provided further, that the continued eligibility of the family shall be determined on an annual basis; 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 a family that exceeds the income eligibility criteria pursuant to section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws shall be eligible for continued assistance hereunder so long as they meet the requirements of their housing stabilization plan and do not exceed 50 per cent of area median income; 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 short-term housing transition program including a wage match agreement with the department of revenue; provided further, that a family that did not make a good faith effort to secure an apartment or did not make a good faith effort to follow their housing stabilization plan during the term of their assistance shall be ineligible for benefits pursuant to said section 30 of said chapter 23B and short-term housing transition benefits for a period of no more than 24 months from the later of the date upon which the family exits a temporary emergency family shelter or a monthly rental assistance payment is made to or on behalf of the family or 12 months for a family that received assistance only for rent arrears, utility charges or extraordinary medical bills; provided further, that no family with a head of household who is over 60 years of age or who is disabled and who is in compliance with the requirements of a housing stabilization plan that accommodates disabilities shall be denied short-term housing assistance; provided further, that any such family with a head of household who is over 60 years of age or who is disabled shall not have engaged in, or be engaged in, any activity that threatens the health, safety or security of the family, other program participants or program staff; provided further, that families receiving benefits under this program who are found not to be eligible for continuing benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal pursuant to said chapter 23B; provided further, that families who are denied assistance under this item may appeal pursuant to said chapter 23B, including subsection (F) of section 30, and regulations adopted to implement said chapter 23B; provided further, that the department, as a condition of continued eligibility for assistance pursuant to this program, may require disclosure of social security numbers by all members of a family in the Massachusetts short-term housing transition program for use in verification of income with other agencies, departments and executive offices; provided further, that any family in which a member of the family shall fail to provide a social security number for use in verifying the family's income and eligibility shall no longer be eligible to receive benefits from the short-term housing transition program; provided further, that the department shall administer the short-term housing transition program through the following agencies unless and until administering agencies are otherwise procured by the department: Berkshire Housing Development Corp., Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Community Teamwork, Inc., Housing Assistance Corp., Franklin County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, Hap, Inc., Metropolitan Boston Housing Partnership, LHAND, South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc., South Shore Housing Development Corporation and RCAP Solutions, Inc; provided further, that the department of housing and community development 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 hotel, 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 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 in this item; provided further, that the department shall promulgate regulations for the short-term housing transition program; provided further, that not less than $3,500,000 shall be expended to directly reduce the usage of shelter, including hotels and motels, by the emergency assistance program; 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, that the department shall submit bi-annual 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 and the current housing stability of each family who received assistance within the prior 12 months and shall include the status of the implementation of this program and any obstacles encountered; and provided further, that beginning October 1, 2011, the department shall report on a quarterly basis to the chairs of the joint committee on housing and the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the number of families, from each local department office, who are ineligible for further assistance by operation of the 24-month and 12-month restrictions in this item |
1,200,000 | 38,561,732 |