Bill > S1008

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), a state-funded rental assistance initiative designed to help low-income households access affordable housing. The program will provide mobile and project-based vouchers to households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income, with at least 75% of vouchers targeted to households earning no more than 30% of the area median income. The bill specifies that rental assistance payments will be calculated so that tenants pay no more than 30% of their monthly adjusted net income (with an option to pay up to 40% in the first year), and the payment standard for vouchers will range between 100-110% of fair market rent, with potential exceptions for disabilities. Administering agencies must inspect voucher-supported units at least every two years to ensure they meet state housing standards. The department will be required to maintain a comprehensive voucher management system and collect detailed data on voucher usage, including demographic and economic information, and report annually to legislative committees. Additionally, the bill ensures that administrative fees for voucher management will be competitive and that any unspent program funding will carry over to the next fiscal year, providing financial flexibility and continuity for the rental assistance program.

Housing and Urban Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1008