Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-153

ECO 153

Rental Bridge Subsidies for Older Adults

Ms. Jehlen, Messrs. Collins and Gómez, Ms. Rausch and Messrs. O'Connor and Eldridge moved that the proposed new text be amended in section 2, by inserting after item 7004-9316 the following item:  

“7004-XXXX. For a short-term housing bridge subsidy program to serve households with individuals who: (i) are not less than 60 years of age; (ii) reside in the commonwealth; (iii) are otherwise eligible for housing under items 7004-0107, 7004-9005, or 7004-9024; (iv) have incomes of not more than 80 per cent of the area median income; and (v) are at risk of eviction due to their inability to consistently pay rent; provided, that households participating in the program shall not, while receiving such assistance, be required to pay more than 30 per cent of their monthly adjusted income for rent, mortgage or other housing financial obligations; provided further, that not less than 75 per cent of the bridge subsidies shall be awarded to households with incomes at initial occupancy that do not exceed 30 per cent of the area median income; provided further, that each participating household shall not be required to pay more than 30 per cent of its monthly adjusted income for rent; provided further, that the executive office of housing and livable communities shall provide assistance for housing units equal to an amount of up to 110 per cent of the area or small area fair market rent based on unit size as established annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development; provided further, that the executive office of housing and livable communities shall enter into performance-based contracts with designated agencies serving older adults to administer the program in urban, suburban and rural areas of the commonwealth; provided further, that the program shall be administered in coordination with the executive office of aging and independence; provided further, that the executive office of housing and livable communities shall provide quarterly reports to the house and senate committees on ways and means, the joint committee on elder affairs and the joint committee on housing on the implementation of the program; provided further, that such reports shall include, but not be limited to, the: (a) number of households screened for the program; (b) number of households approved for the program; (c) age, race, ethnicity, zip code and other demographic data on households approved for the program; (d) age, race, ethnicity, zip code and other demographic data on households deemed ineligible for the program; (e) total number of households participating in the program; (f) total number of households exiting the program and reasons for exiting; (g) number of households that transferred to another affordable housing program; and (h) average number of days that it takes for a household to utilize a bridge subsidy after receiving it; and provided further, that such reports shall be posted on the executive office of housing and livable communities’ website  ………$7,500,000".