HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1176        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1297

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Christine P. Barber

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act promoting housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE program.

_______________

PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1176        FILED ON: 1/18/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1297

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

An Act promoting housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE program.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after subsection A, paragraph (e) the following:-

(f) for re-housing, short-term housing transition program benefits, which shall be available initially for 24 months and then in 12-month, renewable allotments, to eligible families.

The department shall provide further allotments of household assistance from the Massachusetts short-term housing transition program to families that received household assistance in a prior period to prevent eviction from existing housing or to relocate to another housing situation in cases where a.) the family complied with their rehousing plan during the prior period of assistance and b.) continues to include a child under the age of 21 or a pregnant person.

The department shall not impose income eligibility restrictions on families once they are enrolled in the program.

The department shall not require families to be evicted from their existing housing or to otherwise establish that they fall into one of the four categories of affirmative eligibility for emergency assistance shelter currently listed in item 7004-0101.

Families in summary process commenced for a reason determined by the department to be a no fault or excused fault reason for eviction can apply and be found eligible for short-term transition program benefits in order to prevent eviction from existing housing or permit the family to relocate to another housing situation. The department shall allow families to apply and be found eligible for this short-term housing benefit after the summons and complaint is filed in court. Families shall be found eligible for short-term housing transition benefits if, but for feasible alternative housing, they meet the requirements for family shelter.

The department shall provide household assistance in an amount up to $30,000 in the first 24-month period, or a higher cap as established in line item 7004-0108, and up to $15,000, or higher cap as established in line item 7004-0108, in subsequent 12-month periods to eligible families.

The department shall allow families to combine and maximize benefits under the Massachusetts short-term housing transition program and residential assistance for families in transition funds from line item 7004-9316 if families are eligible for both programs, such funds are needed to promote housing stability, and the assistance is non-duplicative.