Bill > H1297

This bill aims to strengthen the HomeBASE program, which provides housing assistance to eligible families in Massachusetts. The key provisions include: 1. Extending the duration of re-housing and short-term housing transition program benefits from 24 months to 12-month renewable allotments, without imposing income eligibility restrictions on families once they are enrolled. 2. Allowing families to apply and be found eligible for short-term housing transition benefits after a summons and complaint for eviction is filed, as long as they meet the requirements for family shelter, regardless of the reason for eviction. 3. Increasing the cap on household assistance from $30,000 in the first 24-month period to a higher cap, and up to $15,000, or a higher cap, in subsequent 12-month periods. 4. Allowing families to combine and maximize benefits from the Massachusetts short-term housing transition program and the residential assistance for families in transition funds, as long as the assistance is non-duplicative and promotes housing stability.