Department of Housing and Community Development

This chapter focuses on the House of Representatives’ FY06 budget recommendations for programs serving persons with disabilities within the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD). For additional information on the impacts of FY01–FY05 budget cuts and more details on program services, go to the People First website at www.mass.gov/mddc/peoplefirst/index.html and click on the DHCD chapter in the Volume I table of contents.

HOUSE BUDGET OVERVIEW

Incremental Improvements for Accessable Housing Access

The House budget recommendation for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) is significantly higher than levels in recent past fiscal years and H1 for FY06. A proposed increase of $700,000 (30%) is a solid step toward meeting accessible housing needs of persons with disabilities, although $5.5 million would be necessary to fully fund the program and serve 800 households.

Line Item Analysis

Account: Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP)
Line Item: 7004-9030

The Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) account funds transitional rental assistance for non-elderly disabled people under the age of 60. AHVP operates under a 1995 law that reserves 86.5% of each community’s Chapter 667 public housing for elderly residents and the remaining 13.5% for non-elderly disabled households. To help non-elderly disabled households who wanted to leave public housing or were on long waiting lists for other assistance, the law created AHVP as a new rent subsidy program to enable non-elderly disabled households to afford housing temporarily until other subsidy options become available.

FY06 Needs

AHVP was initially funded at $4 million in FY96, a level deemed sufficient to support 800 households. However, rising rents in subsequent years made it difficult for voucher holders to find units. After several years of underleasing, DHCD increased both the subsidy and rent levels allowed. Leasing rates then rose to the authorized level of 800. Program cuts in recent years have resulted in fewer than 800 households being served.

Advocates have called for increasing AHVP funding back to $4 million for FY06, noting that it would take $5.5 million to fully fund the program (and serve 800 households). Massachusetts is continuing to experience significant homelessness among individuals with disabilities and cuts in federal Section 8 vouchers make AHVP an increasingly important resource.

House Budget Recommendations

The House budget proposes a $700,000 (30%) increase over both the FY05 and H1 for FY06 funding levels.