The Massachusetts legislature finalized the fiscal year 2022 (FY22) state budget on July 29, overriding Governor Charlie Baker’s veto of $4.7 million for the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT). The state budget increases investments in state-funded affordable housing programs, including the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP), Alternative Housing Voucher Program, housing consumer education centers, public housing, and the Tenancy Preservation Program. The total allocation for FY22 housing programs is more than $300 million. NLIHC state partner Citizens Housing and Planning Association’s (CHAPA’s) Building Blocks Coalition advocated for these critical investments in affordable housing and homelessness prevention.
Governor Baker had signed the FY22 budget on July 16 supporting increases for many affordable housing programs, such as an additional $15 million for the MRVP, $3 million for housing consumer education centers, and $5 million for public housing operating costs. The governor did, however, issue some line-item vetoes, including the transfer of $4.7 million from the Housing Preservation and the Stabilization Trust Fund to RAFT. He justified the veto, saying that additional state funding for rental assistance is not needed due to the influx of COVID-19 federal housing funds going to RAFT. Advocates countered that federal housing relief is a one-time source of funding and that it is critically important to build and maintain a strong foundation for programs like RAFT to address long-term housing challenges.
Because Democrats hold a veto-proof supermajority in both the state House and Senate, they were able to override the governor’s line-item veto. This additional funding for RAFT means that the program will receive $26.7 million for FY22. The additional funding will help ensure the program is able to serve as many families as possible and build long-term housing stability in the state. Housing advocates applauded the state House and Senate for overriding the veto.
Learn more about CHAPA and its housing priorities for the FY22 budget.