Bill > H1547

This bill establishes and codifies the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), a state-level rental assistance initiative designed to help low-income households access affordable housing. The program will provide mobile and project-based rental vouchers to households with incomes at or below 80% of the area median income, with at least 75% of vouchers targeted to households earning 30% or less of the area median income. The bill sets specific guidelines for calculating rental assistance, including that households will pay no more than 30-40% of their monthly adjusted income for rent, and that rental units must meet state sanitary code standards. The bill mandates that the state housing department issue vouchers within the limits of available appropriations, establish a payment standard between 100-110% of fair market rent (with some exceptions for disabilities), and conduct biennial unit inspections. Additionally, the bill requires the department to maintain a comprehensive voucher management system, collect detailed data on voucher usage, and submit annual reports to legislative committees. Importantly, any unspent funding for the program will not be lost but can be carried over to the next fiscal year, ensuring continuity of the rental assistance program.

Budget and Finance, Housing and Urban Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1547