General
- Why is the MATCH program ending?
- The MATCH program is funded by federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). ARPA funds are considered emergency funding and were delivered to states as a one-time, single payment. As such, the MATCH program was designed to run for a limited time, until March 2025 OR until funds run out.
- How long do I have to submit my application?
- Due to high demand for the program and limited remaining funds, the last day to begin new applications for the MATCH program in the MATCH portal is May 10, 2024.
- Any applications initiated in the MATCH portal after May 10, 2024 will not be approved.
- All applications that are initiated by May 10, 2024 must be completed and submitted in the MATCH portal no later than July 12, 2024.
- If my application is submitted on time, am I guaranteed to receive MATCH funding?
- MassHealth will review and approve applications on a first-come-first-served basis.
- MassHealth will process completed applications on an ongoing basis until funding runs out.
- Do I still apply for MATCH through my health plan?
- Yes, the application process is the same. Please refer to the “How to Apply” page.
- How can I get more information about the MATCH program?
- Visit MATCH Assistance for details about how to get more information and apply for assistance.
- Visit MATCH Assistance for details about how to get more information and apply for assistance.
MATCH Program Eligibility
- Can anyone on MassHealth receive assistance through the MATCH program?
- No. Only those people on MassHealth who are enrolled in a MassHealth managed care plan can receive MATCH assistance. MassHealth members must also be transitioning from an eligible housing situation into eligible community-based housing to be considered eligible.
- How do I know if I'm eligible?
- What is considered a “congregate care setting”?
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, a congregate care setting is a residential setting that is owned or operated by a service provider agency in which residents:
- May have their own bedroom but share other amenities such as bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces; and
- Do not have a lease, occupancy agreement, or similar agreement in place that is legally enforceable and provides “rights of tenancy.”
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, a congregate care setting is a residential setting that is owned or operated by a service provider agency in which residents:
- What is considered a “24-hour diversionary residential program for substance use treatment”?
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, a 24-hour residential program for substance use treatment includes a residential setting for the treatment of substance use disorder that is owned or operated by a provider organization contracted with MassHealth in which residents:
- May have their own room or share a room
- May share other amenities such as bathrooms, kitchens, and living spaces
- Depending on the level of care, may be brought prepared meals rather than be provided with a kitchen; and
- Do not have a lease, occupancy agreement, or similar agreement in place that is legally enforceable and provides “rights of tenancy.”
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, a 24-hour residential program for substance use treatment includes a residential setting for the treatment of substance use disorder that is owned or operated by a provider organization contracted with MassHealth in which residents:
- Who is considered “aging out of state systems of care for youth”?
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, those “aging out of state systems of care for youth” include:
- MassHealth members who are turning 18 and are not voluntarily continuing services with the Department of Children and Families (DCF) or the Department of Youth Services (DYS); and
- MassHealth members who are turning 22 and exiting extended voluntary services from DCF or DYS.
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, those “aging out of state systems of care for youth” include:
- What is considered “a doubled-up situation”?
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, a “doubled-up situation” is defined as one in which:
- A MassHealth member is sharing the housing of another person because they could not afford a place of their own; and
- The housing provides insufficient space to accommodate all residents and/or the member is not permitted to stay in the housing in accordance with the lease/agreement that is in place for the other person.
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, a “doubled-up situation” is defined as one in which:
- What is considered “transitional housing”?
- For the purposes of the MATCH program, “transitional housing” is considered temporary, time-limited housing in which residents are required to move after a specified period of time. While transitional housing residents may have an occupancy agreement or similar agreement, it does not allow them to stay in the housing after the specified period of time.
- What is considered “unhabitable housing”?
- For the purpose of the MATCH program, unhabitable housing includes those locations that are not zoned for living spaces, such as garages. It also includes locations that are not appropriately set up for living spaces, such as unheated basements.
- Is an Assisted Living Residence (ALR) an eligible place to be transitioning from?
- No. MassHealth members residing in ALRs would not be eligible for MATCH. MATCH requires that eligible members must be living in a setting where they are not responsible for housing costs. Individuals living in ALRs pay for their own housing costs and therefore do not meet this requirement. However, individuals transitioning from an eligible setting into an ALR may be eligible for MATCH assistance, since ALR is considered community-based housing.
- Is there any length of time someone must be in a facility in order to be eligible for MATCH?
- No. There is not a minimum amount of time that members need to be in a setting or facility to be eligible for MATCH.
- If a MassHealth member is moving in with family or friends, is that considered “community-based housing”?
- To be considered “community-based housing,” the member must be paying rent or a fee to reside in the housing, and the housing should meet the following criteria.
- Members have privacy in their sleeping or living units.
- Units have lockable entrance doors, and members have keys to those doors.
- Members have the freedom to furnish and decorate their sleeping or living units within the lease or other agreement.
- Members have freedom and support to control their schedules and activities and have access to food at any time.
- Members may have visitors at any time.
- To be considered “community-based housing,” the member must be paying rent or a fee to reside in the housing, and the housing should meet the following criteria.
- If a person is leaving a facility and has a home to go back to, would they be eligible for MATCH assistance?
- No. To be considered eligible for MATCH, an individual must be moving into a new community-based housing situation where they are in need of financial assistance to secure the housing and/or furnishings to allow them to live in the housing.
- What is meant by “housing costs and related expenses”?
- Housing costs are defined as regular rent, fees, or mortgage payments to occupy the housing. Housing related expenses are defined as utilities to make the housing habitable.
- Can an individual who is enrolled in MassHealth ACO Flexible Services or Money Follows the Person/Moving Forward Program apply for MATCH assistance?
- In general, individuals who are enrolled in MassHealth ACO Flexible Services or Money Follows the Person/Moving Forward Program are eligible to access similar assistance through these programs and should not be applying for MATCH assistance.
MATCH Eligible Costs
- What costs are eligible under the MATCH program?
- Visit MATCH Eligible Costs and Expenses for a complete list of eligible expenses.
- Does the $5,500 maximum apply to all requested items?
- Yes, the total of all items requested through the MATCH program cannot exceed $5,500 for each eligible member.
- Is a married couple eligible for $5,500 each in MATCH assistance?
- Each MATCH eligible MassHealth member can get up to $5,500. If the married couple includes two eligible MassHealth members, then they would be eligible for $5,500 each or $11,000 total.
- If the member finds housing through a broker, can MATCH pay the broker fee?
- Yes. Broker fees are considered an eligible MATCH expense.
- Can MATCH funds be used to purchase items not listed here?
- Only those items listed are eligible under the MATCH program. No additional items are allowable.
- Can MATCH assistance be used to provide gift cards?
- No. MATCH funds cannot be used to fund gift cards.
- Can MATCH assistance be used to reimburse a MassHealth member for costs already incurred if those costs are listed as eligible?
- No. MATCH funds cannot be provided directly to the member and therefore cannot be used to reimburse a member for costs already incurred.
- When providing first month’s rent or a security deposit through MATCH to a landlord/owner, is there anything the landlord will have to do to accept the funds?
- The landlord/owner will have to provide information so that an Electronic Funds Transfer payment or check can be issued to them on behalf of the eligible member.
| Date published: | December 8, 2022 |
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| Last updated: | April 5, 2024 |