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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1878 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1491
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
David F. DeCoste
_________________
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 relative to CHAMP that will revert back to local residents receiving priority over
applicants that have not been screened as emergency applicants.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:David F. DeCoste5th Plymouth1/15/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1878 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1491
By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1491) of
David F. DeCoste relative to statewide public housing applications and the centralized waitlist
system. Housing.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1314 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to CHAMP that will revert back to local residents receiving priority over
applicants that have not been screened as emergency applicants.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Effective April 10, 2019, DHCD launched the internet based, state-wide public housing
2application and centralized waitlist system known as CHAMP to the public. This system was
3mandated by the legislature as Section 14 of Chapter 235 of the Acts of 2014. The Eligibility and
4Selection Criteria regulation, 760 CMR 5.00, has been updated to incorporate CHAMP.
5 760 CMR 5.05 (3) Determinations of Priority, Preference, Eligibility and Qualification;
6(a) When an applicant approaches the top of a waiting list for an LHA program to which the
7applicant has applied, the LHA shall make a final determination of the applicant's priority,
8preference, eligibility and qualification. 2 of 2
9 Legislation that states CHAMP will revert back to local residents receiving priority over
10applicants that have not been screened as emergency applicants. Applicants will no longer be
11able to self-certify their emergency status.