This week, our State Representatives will be deciding which House budget amendments to co-sponsor. This is our opportunity to advocate for their support of our key priorities (for contact info on your state legislator, go here). In partnership with our statewide advocacy partners, CHAPA, Mass Coalition for the Homeless and Homes for Families, the Network’s priority amendments are key to moving us forward in our effort to prevent and end homelessness.
Please contact your Representative to request their co-sponsorship of the following Amendments:
#401 – Mass Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) filed byRepresentative Paul Donato to increasing funding to $130 million to provide approximately 700 new vouchers.
#859 – MRVP filed by Representative Joe McGonagle to raise the Fair Market Rent levels from 2005 to current standards.
#1127 – Rent Arrearage Assistance Program (RAAP) filed by Representative Marjorie Decker to create a $7 million upstream homelessness prevention pilot program within RAFT.
#883 – Youth homelessness filed by Representative Jim O’Day to increase funding to $5 million for housing and wraparound services for unaccompanied youth and young adults experiencing homelessness.
#682 – Secure Jobs filed by Representative Paul Brodeur to increase funding to $2 million to provide workforce development support for homeless families and individuals.
#40 – Housing Consumer Education Centers Amendment filed by Representative Kevin Honan to increase HCEC funding to $4 million.
#765 – Mass ID access filed by Representative Kay Khan to create a new outside section of the budget to ease access to standard Mass IDs for people experiencing homelessness.
#1318 Craig’s Doors Emergency Shelter filed by Representative Mindy Domb to ensure that $175,000 of the emergency shelter line-item is allocated to this Amherst shelter, the only behavior-based shelter in Hampshire County, which serves individuals from Hampden and Franklin Counties as well.
#195 – Berkshire Winter Overflow Shelter Services filed by Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier for $150,000 to provide critical winter emergency shelter services in Berkshire County.
#1345 – Western MA Network to End Homelessness Amendmentfiled by Representative Lindsay Sabadosa to continue $125,000 in funding for the Network and its collective impact efforts.
Thanks for your advocacy!
