August 29, 2007
Secretary Daniel O’Connell
Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development
One Ashburton Place, Room 2101
Boston, MA 02108
Attention: FY2009 Budget
Dear Secretary O’Connell:
United Disability Housing Partnership (United Housing) is a cross-disability coalition dedicated to expanding housing opportunities for low income and homeless persons living with disabilities. United Housing’s 62 member organizations represent well over 250,000 individuals across Massachusetts.
We appreciate the opportunity to offer comments on the FY 2009 Budget.
United Housing recommends funding the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP – line item #7004-9030) at least at $4.5 million in the FY’09 State Budget. We also recommend an increase in the administration fee for AHVP which equals that of other state-funded rental assistance programs.
AHVP is the most significant source of rental support for individuals living with disabilities in Massachusetts. However, the current funding level of $3.5 million is insufficient to meet the need for housing within the disability community and the demand for AHVP remains very high. Several local housing authorities that administer AHVP report waiting lists with as many as 300 people.
$3.5 million is $500,000 less than the original amount allocated for the program when AHVP was created in 1995 and funds barely half of the number of vouchers the program was charged with providing. An increase to $4.5 million would grow AHVP significantly and move the State closer to its commitment to provide 800 vouchers for individuals living with disabilities.
AHVP’s low administration fee serves as a disincentive for participation in the program by local housing authorities (LHA’s) from across the Commonwealth. The current fee of $25 per voucher has not been increased in the 17-year history of AHVP and remains lower than the administration fees provided by other state rental assistance programs such as the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP). Increasing this fee to match the level of MRVP would cost less than $50,000 and would greatly increase the likelihood of participation in AHVP by LHA’s as well as improving the overall effectiveness of the program.
Affordability remains one of the most significant barriers to accessing housing for persons living with disabilities. With Massachusetts’ housing costs among the highest in the country, SSI payments, on which many with disabilities rely for their income, are insufficient to afford fair market rent in any community in the Commonwealth. Despite the need, rental vouchers remain an extremely scarce commodity for many individuals in need of housing assistance. A recent Boston Globe article from August 15 which described individuals paying as much as $2,000 for what turned out to be counterfeit housing vouchers clearly highlights the need and desperation felt by many people.
We urge your careful consideration of these comments on this important disability issue as the FY’09 State Budget is being crafted. United Housing remains willing and eager to work with EOHED and DHCD to help address the housing needs of persons living with disabilities. Again, thank you for the opportunity to submit these comments.
The Undersigned Members of United Disability Housing Partnership