Supporting the Homeless through the FY2010 Budget

The House’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget is complete. Now it’s time to focus on the Senate

Massachusetts Catholic Conference

May 8, 2009

Many of you contacted your State Representative to urge them to support two amendments that would protect housing and emergency resources for people at-risk and experiencing homelessness. Your advocacy made a difference.

 

·        Representative Kevin Honan (D-Boston) filed an amendment to restore $17.8 million in funding for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) (line item 7004-9024), raising the appropriation from $17.9 to $35.7 million. The House passed this amendment. This helps ensure that those who rely on this program for their housing can continue to receive assistance.

 

·        Representative Steven Walsh (D-Lynn) filed an amendment to insert money and language into the Emergency Assistance Family Shelter and Services Account within the Department of Housing and Community Development (line item 7004-0101) to level fund homelessness prevention services at the Fiscal Year 2009 expenditures. The amendment was broadened to include funding “for non-profits that assist in providing food, supplies, and services to the indigent and those in danger of becoming homeless” and was included in the housing consolidated amendment passed by the full House.

 

Next Steps:

 

1.) Call your State Representative.

·        Thank them if they supported the Representative Kevin Honan (D-Boston) amendment #567 to restore funds for MRVP and the Representative Steven Walsh (D-Lynn) amendment #248 for homelessness prevention services.

2.) Dialogue with your State Senator

·        The Senate Ways and Means Committee should release its version of the FY’10 budget the week of May 11th. According to Senate Ways and Means Chairman Steven Panagiotakos the Senate budget will be based on a revenue projection approximately $1 billion less than the House Ways and Means’ initial revenue figure because of the rapid deterioration in tax collections, setting the stage for major cuts in spending.

·        We will be back in touch with you when the Senate Ways and Means budget is released to let you know what actions need to be taken to protect housing, shelter and homelessness prevention programs for those most in need.

3.) To learn who your state legislators are, go to www.wheredoivotema.com or call the main State House number at 617-722-2000.

 

Massachusetts Catholic Conference
West End Place, Suite 5
150 Staniford St.
Boston, Massachusetts 02114-2511
(v) 617-367-6060
(f) 617-367-2767
(e) staff@macathconf.org
(w) http://www.macathconf.org

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