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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1176 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1297
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Christine P. Barber
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act promoting housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE program.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex1/18/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/20/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex1/30/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/8/2023Colleen M. Garry36th Middlesex2/13/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/17/2023Daniel Cahill10th Essex2/17/2023Natalie M. Higgins4th Worcester2/23/2023James J. O'Day14th Worcester2/28/2023Rebecca L. RauschNorfolk, Worcester and Middlesex3/2/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester3/4/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1176 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1297
By Representative Barber of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1297) of
Christine P. Barber and others relative to housing stability for families by strengthening the
HomeBASE program. Housing.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act promoting housing stability for families by strengthening the HomeBASE program.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 30 of chapter 23B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition,
2is hereby amended by inserting after subsection A, paragraph (e) the following:-
3 (f) for re-housing, short-term housing transition program benefits, which shall be
4available initially for 24 months and then in 12-month, renewable allotments, to eligible families.
5 The department shall provide further allotments of household assistance from the
6Massachusetts short-term housing transition program to families that received household
7assistance in a prior period to prevent eviction from existing housing or to relocate to another
8housing situation in cases where a.) the family complied with their rehousing plan during the
9prior period of assistance and b.) continues to include a child under the age of 21 or a pregnant
10person.
11 The department shall not impose income eligibility restrictions on families once they are
12enrolled in the program. 2 of 2
13 The department shall not require families to be evicted from their existing housing or to
14otherwise establish that they fall into one of the four categories of affirmative eligibility for
15emergency assistance shelter currently listed in item 7004-0101.
16 Families in summary process commenced for a reason determined by the department to
17be a no fault or excused fault reason for eviction can apply and be found eligible for short-term
18transition program benefits in order to prevent eviction from existing housing or permit the
19family to relocate to another housing situation. The department shall allow families to apply and
20be found eligible for this short-term housing benefit after the summons and complaint is filed in
21court. Families shall be found eligible for short-term housing transition benefits if, but for
22feasible alternative housing, they meet the requirements for family shelter.
23 The department shall provide household assistance in an amount up to $30,000 in the first
2424-month period, or a higher cap as established in line item 7004-0108, and up to $15,000, or
25higher cap as established in line item 7004-0108, in subsequent 12-month periods to eligible
26families.
27 The department shall allow families to combine and maximize benefits under the
28Massachusetts short-term housing transition program and residential assistance for families in
29transition funds from line item 7004-9316 if families are eligible for both programs, such funds
30are needed to promote housing stability, and the assistance is non-duplicative.