7004-9030 Alternative Housing Voucher Program

For the rental assistance program established in section 16 of chapter 179 of the acts of 1995; provided, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, assistance may be provided in the form of either mobile vouchers or project-based vouchers; provided further, that the vouchers shall be in varying dollar amounts set by the executive office of housing and livable communities based on considerations including, but not limited to, household size, composition, household income and geographic location; provided further, that the executive office's approved monthly rent limits for vouchers newly issued or leased after a date set by the executive office, but not later than June 30, 2026, shall be set, at the discretion of the executive office, at either up to 110 per cent of the current area-wide fair market rent or up to 110 per cent of the current small area fair market rent, except as necessary as a reasonable accommodation for a household member with a disability or as otherwise directed by the executive office, both based on unit size as established annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for the same size of dwelling unit in the same region; provided further, that the requested rent level for vouchers shall be determined reasonable by the administering agency; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be no maximum percentage applicable to the amount of income paid for rent by each household holding a mobile voucher; provided further, that unless the executive office implements a payment standard or utility allowance for the program, each household may be required to pay not less than 25 per cent of its net income as defined under regulations promulgated by the executive office for units if payment of utilities is not provided by the unit owner or not less than 30 per cent of its income for units if payment of utilities is provided by the unit owner; provided further, that payments for the rental assistance program may be provided in advance; provided further, that the executive office shall establish the amounts of the mobile vouchers so that the appropriation in this item is not exceeded by payments for rental assistance and administration; provided further, that the executive office shall not enter into commitments which shall cause it to exceed the appropriation set forth in this item; provided further, that the amount of a rental assistance voucher payment for an eligible household shall not exceed the rent less the household's minimum rent obligation; and provided further, that not later than December 15, 2025, the executive office shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means detailing: (i) expenditures from this item; (ii) the number of outstanding rental vouchers; and (iii) the number and types of units leased