Massachusetts Chapter NAHRO

Legislative Committee Report

Several legislative issues and items are updated below for the information of the members. The Massachusetts Legislature will recess shortly until after the November elections. The Legislative Committee of MassNAHRO has begun work on a number of legislative petitions for consideration in 2009. In addition, a series of on site regional briefings for legislators at housing authorities is being set up so that the latest information on the public housing program can be shared with members of the Great and General Court. More advocacy and information is needed in 2009 if badly needed resources are to be secured. Many legislators believe the $500 million in the housing bond bill is available for operating budgets as well as capital improvements. Many feel they took good care of their housing authorities this past legislative session not realizing that the authorities are still in a very deep fiscal hole and that operating costs and utilities are escalating way beyond the additional subsidy provided by the Legislature this year. It would beappreciated if housing authorities would volunteer their community rooms for these regional informational presentations.Thank you.
Subsidy ‑ The Conference Committee on the 2009 Budget split the difference on subsidy and approved $66.5 million for 2009.This translates into zero growth in bottom line allowable non‑utility expense levels.DHCD, MassNAHRO and public housing advocates are pushing for a supplemental budget to be filed by the Governor to address the zero caps and an increase in utilities expected to exceed 30% or more over the course of fiscal 2009, thereby putting LHAs in a deeper fiscal hole not of their own making.Other 2009 Budget Line Items:
‑The Service Co‑ordinators were frozen at $490,000.
‑Supportive Senior Housing was cut to $4,202,915.
‑The language relative to undocumented immigrants being barred from preference in housing placement was deleted.
‑MRVP was increased from $29.9 to $33 million, which will not cover all the vouchers already on the street.
‑The 800 pound housing gorilla in the room was the Governor's $8.2 million request to fund the Homeless Commission's recommendations, which pretty much negated the likelihood of more operating subsidy or MRVP funding.
Senate 2799 on the preservation of affordable housing (expiring use) is on the fast track for passage.LHAs are listed as eligible to be DHCD's designee for purchase of expiring use developments locally to keep them affordable.
Federal Items ‑ Congratulations to Rick Leco and the NERC Legislative Network for aiding in the passage of H.R. 6216, the exemption from Asset Based Management for small PHAs with 500‑250 units.Section 21 of U. S. Senate 2846 would provide a preference for state public housing and regional entities to receive any new section 8 vouchers.

A study of the Appropriate Operating Costs for State-Funded Public Housing in Massachusetts (September, 2005)

Findings of the Subcommittee on Public Housing Listening Tour and Status of State Public Housing (July, 2006)

Office of State Auditor Report on State Public Housing [PDF file]