Budget Amendment ID: FY2018-S3-641

ECO 641

Alternative Housing Voucher Program

Messrs. Eldridge, Cyr, Lewis, Moore and Timilty, Ms. L'Italien, Messrs. Barrett, Brady, Keenan and O'Connor and Ms. O'Connor Ives moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, in item 7004-9030, by striking out item 7004-9030 in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:-

7004-9030 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, the rental assistance program shall be in the form of mobile vouchers and project based vouchers; provided further, that the vouchers shall be in varying dollar amounts set by the department of housing and community development based on considerations including, but not limited to, household size, composition, household income and geographic location; provided further, that any household that is proven to have caused intentional damage to its rental unit in an amount exceeding 2 months rent during any 1-year period shall be terminated from the program; 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 each household shall be required to pay not less than 25 per cent of its net income as defined in regulations promulgated by the department 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 department 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 department 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 the word “rent”, as used in this item, shall mean payments to the landlord or owner of a dwelling unit under a lease or other agreement for a tenant's occupancy of the dwelling unit, but shall not include payments made by the tenant separately for the cost of heat, cooking fuel or electricity………………………………………………………$7,500,000