7004-0099 Office of the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities

For the operation of the executive office of housing and livable communities; provided, that the executive office may make expenditures against federal grants for certain direct and indirect costs under a cost overhead allocation plan approved by the comptroller; provided further, that the comptroller shall maintain an account on the state accounting and reporting system to make these expenditures; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended to Revitalize Community Development Corporation to support the growth of service to more low--income individuals in need and filling a gap in serving individuals at home to prevent the need for hospitalization; provided further, that not less than $40,000 shall be expended for Maverick Landing Community Services, Inc. to provide information, education and assistance on housing rights and eviction and foreclosure issues including, completing and submitting housing assistance applications for tenants and small homeowners, through a housing support station in the East Boston section of the city of Boston; provided further, that expenditures made against the account shall not be subject to appropriation and may include the cost of personnel; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the executive office may conduct annual verifications of household income levels based upon state tax returns to administer the state and federal housing subsidy programs funded by items 7004-0108, 7004-9005, 7004-9024, 7004-9030, 7004-9033 and 7004-9316 of this section and items 7004--9009, 7004--9014, 7004--9019 and 7004--9020 of section 2D; provided further, that as a condition of eligibility or continued occupancy by an applicant or tenant, the executive office may require disclosure of the social security numbers of the applicant or tenant and members of the applicant's or tenant's household solely for use in verification of income eligibility; provided further, that the executive office may deny or terminate participation in subsidy programs for failure by an applicant or tenant to provide a social security number for use in verification of income eligibility; provided further, that the executive office may consult with the department of revenue, the department of transitional assistance or any other state or federal agency to conduct said income verification; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, these state agencies shall consult and cooperate with the executive office and furnish any information in the possession of the agencies including, but not limited to, tax returns and applications for public assistance or financial aid; provided further, that in conducting income verifications, the executive office may enter into an interdepartmental service agreement with the department of revenue to utilize the department of revenue's wage reporting and bank match system to verify the income and eligibility of participants in federally--assisted housing programs and that of members of the participants' households; provided further, that notwithstanding section 12 of chapter 490 of the acts of 1980, the executive office may authorize neighborhood housing services corporations to retain, reassign and reloan funds received in repayment of loans made under the neighborhood housing services rehabilitation program; provided further, that not later than September 16, 2026, the executive office shall promulgate and uniformly enforce regulations clarifying that a household that otherwise qualifies for any preference or priority for state--subsidized housing based on homeless or at--risk status shall retain that preference or priority notwithstanding receipt of assistance that is intended to be temporary including, but not limited to, any temporary or bridge subsidies provided with state or federal funds, which shall include households receiving assistance under item said 7004-0108 after July 1, 2013; provided further, that the executive office shall operate local offices in the 10 cities and towns in which the executive office maintained office locations as of January 1, 2026 in order to continue to accept in--person applications and provide other services related to the emergency assistance housing program funded by item 7004-0101; provided further, that the offices shall have sufficient staffing to determine eligibility promptly and provide other program services to families; provided further, that the executive office may operate additional local offices in other municipalities that are geographically convenient to those families who are experiencing homelessness or are at risk of homelessness; provided further, that not later than September 2, 2026, the executive office shall submit a report to the house and senate committees on ways and means that shall include, but not be limited to, for each local office: (i) the municipality in which each office is located; (ii) the ways in which applicants can submit applications and connect with staff, including, if available, in--person, by telephone and online; (iii) the daily business hours of in--person and telephonic operation of each office; (iv) the number of full--time equivalent staff assigned to each office; (v) the average wait time for direct communication with a staff member whether in--person or by telephone; and (vi) any steps the executive office plans to take to increase accessibility to intake services related to emergency assistance housing programs across the commonwealth; provided further, that at least annually, the executive office shall conduct staff trainings which shall include, but not be limited to, notice of changes in laws related to items of appropriation under the administration of the executive office; provided further, that the executive office shall provide the caseload forecasting office with enrollment data and any other information pertinent to caseload forecasting that is requested by the office on a monthly basis; provided further, that such information shall be provided in a manner that meets all applicable federal and state privacy and security requirements; provided further, that not less than $200,000 shall be expended for Massachusetts Fair Housing Center, Inc. to protect residents from housing discrimination; and provided further, that not less than $175,000 shall be expended for technical assistance for municipalities implementing the seasonal community designation under section 32 of chapter 23B of the General Laws;