7004-3036 Housing Services and Counseling

For housing services and counseling; provided, that funds shall be expended as grants to 9 regional housing consumer education centers operated by the regional nonprofit housing authorities; provided further, that the grants shall be awarded through a competitive application process under criteria established by the executive office of housing and livable communities; provided further, that the executive office shall submit annual reports to the secretary of administration and finance, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the joint committee on housing detailing all expenditures of the program, including each regional housing consumer education center, the total number of persons who received information and referral services, the costs for such services rendered per consumer and the identification of consumer issues and trends; provided further, that not later than January 4, 2026, the executive office shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means on possible savings and efficiencies that may be realized through the consolidation of said services; provided further, that not less than $150,000 shall be expended to the city known as the town of Barnstable to support the development and operation of a municipal housing resource initiative to improve housing access for the local workforce; provided further, that said funds may be expended to provide financial support to first--time homebuyers employed in the city known as the town of Barnstable; and provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended for the Regional Housing Network of Massachusetts, Inc. for coordination and information technology