Supplemental Funding Approved for Homeless Families (Emergency Shelter)

On Thursday December 17, after vigorous advocacy efforts, both the House and the Senate approved Governor Patrick's supplemental budget request for $41.9 million for the Emergency Assistance program (Department of Housing and Community Development line item 7004-0101). On Friday, the Governor signed the budget. As you know, this program provides critical shelter, diversion, rapid re-housing resources and services to children and families who are experiencing homelessness.

Passage of this supplemental budget means that families with children will continue to have a safety net and access to services and rehousing resources throughout fiscal year 2010. It also means that providers will not be facing a 20% budget cut for the second half of this fiscal year. The EA family shelter systems supports approximately 2,200 families, with an additional 1,000 families living in motels across the state.

-From: “Good News! The Legislature Approves the Governor's Supplemental Funding Request for Families Experiencing Homelessness”, Mass. Coalition for the Homeless, December 21, 2009 .

 

12/09