Budget

Each year, the state and federal governments undertake a process to create operating budgets for the following fiscal year. These processes typically begin in late January with the governor and president announcing their respective budgetary suggestions. The Massachusetts’ legislature usually passes it’s final budget in May while the federal process can last as late as November.

It is during this window of time that United Housing engages in its most important advocacy work. Through working with elected officials, policy makers, and other disability organizations, we attempt to ensure that the housing needs of persons living with disabilities are taken into consideration during the budget process.

United Housing Submits Comments on FY 2009 State Budget

August 29, 2007 - As the first step in formulating the Fiscal Year 2009 State Budget, the Executive Office on Housing and Economic Development (EOHED) held hearings to hear comments from the public. United Housing submitted the following testimony, calling for an overall funding increase in the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) line item (7004-9030) and an increase in the program’s administration fee. United Housing is seeking total funding of $4.5 million and an admin fee increase from the current level of $25 to at least equal the admin fee paid for other state rental assistance programs. Read United Housing's testimony →

Ways and Means Committee Hears Comments on FY 2008 Budget

March 15, 2007 - On March 15, the House and Senate Ways and Means committees held a public hearing at the State House to accept public comments on the FY 2008 state budget. United Housing submitted testimony asking that the legislature increase funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) to $4.5 million and that the administration fee be increased to match that of other state rental assistance programs.
Read United Housing's testimony →

United Housing Protests President’s Proposed Cut to Disability Housing

March 14, 2007 - Earlier this year, President Bush released his budget recommendations for FY 2008. In that document, the administration called for an almost 50% cut in HUD’s Section 811 program – the only federal program charged with creating housing specifically for persons living with disabilities. In response, United Housing sent a letter to House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank asking him to resist the proposed cut to Section 811.
Read the text of the letter →

United Housing Calls on DHCD to Increase Funding for AHVP

January 25, 2007 - At the Department of Housing and Community Development's (DHCD) hearing on the FY 2008 Budget, United Housing joined advocates from across the state in requesting that funding for AHVP be increased to $4.5 million and that the administration fee be raised to match that of other state rental assistance programs.
Read United Housing's testimony →

United Housing Calls on Legislature, Governor-Elect to Oppose Romney's 9c Cuts

November 21, 2006 - On Friday, November 10, outgoing governor Mitt Romney announced more than $400 million in funding reductions to the FY 2007 State Budget. These cuts, which were made using the Governor's 9c authority, included severe reductions in funding to many human service programs, including those designed to address the housing needs of persons living with disabilities. In response, United Housing sent letters to chairmen Joyce and Honan (and to the members of the Joint Housing Committee) as well as to Governor-Elect Deval Patrick, calling on them to use their positions to oppose these cuts.

General Court Increases Funding For AHVP

May 26, 2005 - For the second consecutive year, both the House and the Senate increased funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP). The $500,000 increase will result in approximately 150 new housing vouchers for low income and homeless individuals living with disabilities. Since 2005, funding for AHVP has increased $1.2 million. This year, support for the program in the House and the Senate increased dramatically, with 17 members of the House and 11 members of the Senate supporting amendments to increase AHVP funding. In the House, an amendment offered by Representative Marty Walsh was cosponsored by representatives Finegold, Guyer, Khan, Smizik, Speranzo, L'Italien, Fiesta, Wolf, Tobin, Falzone, Kafka, Grant, Turner, Sanchez, Fox, Nyman, and Paulsen. In the Senate, Senator Brian Joyce offered a similar amendment that was cosponsored by senators Barrios, Resor, Jehlen, Nuciforo, Augustus, O'Leary, Spilka, Antonioni, Fargo, and Creem. Click through links below to read United's letters of thanks to legislators.

President's Budget Would Cut Federal Disability Housing Funds By 50%

February 24, 2006 - In his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2007, President Bush proposes cutting HUD's Section 811 program in half. 811 is the only federal program that is specifically charged with creating affordable and accessible housing for low income and homeless persons living with disabilities. If enacted, this cut would effectively halt all new disability housing construction and severely impact the federal government's existing construction commitments. United Housing sent the following letter to members of the House and Senate Budget committees, urging them to resist the President's proposal to half Section 811 and to preserve funding for this important program. Read the text of the letter →

House Begins to Draft FY 07 State Budget

February 9, 2006 - In late January, Governor Romney released his budget proposal for Fiscal Year 2007. In it, he called for level funding of the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) and the creation of a new Tenancy Preservation Program. United Housing sent the following letter to each member of the House of Representatives, urging them to increase funding for AHVP to $4 million and to support the Governor's proposal to fund the Tenancy Preservation Program. Read the text of the letter →

Bush Proposal Would Cut $100 Million from Disability Housing

November 16, 2005 - As part of his emergency budget appropriation to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, President Bush has proposed a $100 million cut in HUD's Section 811 program, which is charged with creating housing for persons with disabilities. Earlier this year, the President had proposed a 50% cut to this important disability housing program, but fortunately Congress resisted this cut. United Housing sent the following letters to members of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, urging them to preserve funding for Section 811.

Governor Romney Urged to Increase Funding for AHVP in FY 07 Budget

November 9, 2005 - As the Governor and the General Court begin to consider priorities for the Fiscal Year 2007 budget, United Housing has designated increasing funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) as it's top goal. AHVP provides rental assistance to low income and homeless individuals with disabilities. For FY 07, United Housing is seeking a funding level of $4 million (a $1 million increase over FY 2006), which would provide over 600 vouchers for disabled persons. United Housing sent the following letter regarding AHVP to Governor Romney along with a fact sheet.

Representative Khan Offers Affordable Housing Trust Fund Amendment

October 18, 2005 - Representative Kay Khan offered an amendment to the Fiscal Year 2006 Supplemental Budget that would have provided $5 million for Massachusetts' Affordable Housing Trust Fund, $3 million of which would have been designated to provide permanent and transitional housing for persons with disabilities. Unfortunately, House leadership did not allow for the amendment's consideration during debate. Click here to read United Housing's letter of support for the amendment, or click through to the next link to read the text of the amendment.

Conferees Urged to Preserve House and Senate AHVP Funding Levels

June 7, 2005 - In early June, the Massachusetts General Court entered another phase in writing the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget when the House and the Senate selected conferees to work out differences between the two versions of the budget. Click below to read the letter United Housing sent to budget conferees to help ensure that gains made in the House and Senate were preserved, urging them to keep the $3 million funding level for AHVP intact.
Read the text of the letter →

MA Senate Approves Additional Funding for Disability Housing

May 24, 2005 - During its consideration of the Fiscal Year 2006 Budget, the State Senate approved an amendment offered by Senator Brian Joyce at the urging of United Housing that provided an additional $700,000 for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP). This additional funding will provide approximately 100 new housing vouchers for individuals living with disabilities. This is the first funding increase for AHVP since the program was cut in 2001. Navigate to the links below to read United's news release on additional AHVP funding, as well as United's letter of thanks to Sen. Joyce for sponsoring the amendment.

United Housing Thanks Rep. Anne Paulsen

April 29, 2005 - During the House's consideration of the FY 2006 budget, Representative Anne Paulsen offered an amendment to increase funding for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) by $1 million. Although the text of the amendment was not included in the final consolidated housing amendment that was considered by the House, United Housing thanked Rep. Paulsen in a letter (below) for her commitment to increasing housing opportunities for persons with disabilities. Read the text of the letter →

Senate Urged to Oppose Cuts to CDBG Program

May 25, 2005 - In his FY 2006 budget, President Bush proposed severe cuts to HUD's Community Development Block Grant (CDGB) program. This program has been one of HUD's most effective means for developing affordable housing in urban areas. A group of senators circulated a Dear Colleague letter to the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee, calling on them to resist the proposed cuts and instead appropriate additional funding. Below is United Housing's letter to Senator John Kerry, asking him to sign the CDB G Dear Colleague letter. Read the text of the letter →

President Bush Proposes Potentially Devastating Cuts to Disability Housing Programs

March 17, 2005 - In his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2006, President Bush proposed significant cuts in housing programs that serve disabled individuals. United Housing sent the following letter to members of the House Budget and Appropriations committees, as well as all ten members of the Massachusetts Congressional Delegation, arguing against cuts in housing programs for persons with disabilities.

United Housing Submits Comments on the Proposed Fiscal Year 2006 Proposed State Budget

March 15, 2005 - As the House and the Senate began their consideration of the Fiscal Year 2006 state budget, United Housing submitted the following comments to Senator Therese Murray and Representative Robert DeLeo, chairs of the respective Senate and House Ways and Means committees, regarding aspects of the state budget of concern to the disability housing community.
Read the text of the letter →

Congress Approves Omnibus Bill

November 22, 2004 - On Nov. 20, Congress passed the Omnibus Bill, which included the VA-HUD spending. Section 8 escaped being block-granted and was funded above what the president had asked for. Other programs such as HOPWA and 811 sustained cuts to their funding. For more information on the Omnibus Bill, visit the press release at the National Low Income Housing Coalition's Web site by clicking the link below.
Read more on the Omnibus Bill on NLIHC's site
(Opens in new window) →

DHCD FY06 Budget Comments

November 18, 2004 - The Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development's proposed FY06 budget was made available for comments. Click below to read a letter United members drafted and submitted detailing their funding request for specific items.
Read the text of the letter →

HUD-VA Bill Update

August 2004 - The House appropriations sub-committee has marked up the FY 2005 Veteran's Affairs-Dept. of Housing and Urban Development Bill. In order to keep the Section 8 Program funded the sub-committee slashed the majority of HUD's other housing programs, specifically those for the disabled, homeless, and elderly by 4%. This means that the HOPWA program potentially loses $12.7 million in funding compared to FY 2004 funding levels. Follow the link below for more information on potential cuts to HOPWA and other HUD programs.
Read the text of the letter →