State Senator Ed Kennedy sent a letter to City of Lowell officials and the rest of the state delegation yesterday, outlining the final State Budget and what it provides for Homeless and Vulnerable Individuals.
The letter details the various departments and what each would received, though how much of that funding the Mill City is eligible for, or how they would go about securing portions of it, is not indicated.
The letter is published below, in its entirety.
July 31, 2023
Mayor Sokhary Chau
Lowell City Council
City of Lowell
375 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
Re: FY24 State Budget Assistance for Homeless and Vulnerable Individuals
Dear Mayor Chau and Members of Lowell City Council:
Today the State Legislature passed the Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget. As mentioned in my previous correspondence, my office has compiled a summary of the included funding for homeless and vulnerable individuals in the final budget. I hope you find this budget summary (see below) useful in developing a policy and strategy to deal with the homeless issue in Lowell. If you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 617-722-1630.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Kennedy
State Senator
First Middlesex District
Assistance for Homeless and Vulnerable Individuals in FY24 Budget
Housing
• $325 million for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters
• $190 million for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT)
• $179.5 million for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
• $110.8 million for assistance for homeless individuals
• $107 million for assistance to local housing authorities
• $37 million for the HomeBASE diversion and rapid re-housing programs
• $12.6 million for Homeless Programs Administration
• $11.7 million for Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Administration
• $8.9 million for sponsor-based supportive permanent housing
• $8.9 million for the Home and Healthy for Good re-housing and supportive services program
• $5 million for Homeless Individuals Rapid Re-Housing Program
• $4 million for Local Housing Program Grants
• $4 million for Congregate Housing
• $2.5 million for Accessible Affordable Housing Grants
• $1.3 million for Public Housing Reform
• $125,000 for the Creative Housing Options in Community Environment Program
Economic Opportunity
• $15 million for a Community Empowerment and Reinvestment Grant Program to provide economic support to communities disproportionately impacted by the criminal justice system
Health, Mental Health & Family Care
• $600 million for Department of Mental Health adult support services, including assisted outpatient programming and comprehensive care coordination among health care providers.
• $219 million for a complete range of substance use disorder treatment and intervention services to support these individuals and their families
• $20 million to recapitalize the Behavioral Health, Access, Outreach and Support Trust Fund to support targeted behavioral health initiatives
• $10 million for shelter workforce assistance
• $5 million for substance abuse grants
Workforce Development
• $20 million for the Department of Transitional Assistance Employment and Training Services
• $19 million for Labor and Workforce Development Shared Services
Criminal Justice
• $15.7 million for community-based re-entry programs
• $3 million for housing assistance re-entry transition
• $2 million for Department of Corrections re-entry programs
CC: City Manager Thomas Golden Jr.
State Representative Rodney Elliot
State Representative Vanna Howard
State Representative Rady Mom
Lowell Housing Authority Executive Director Tha Chhan
Director of Health and Human Services Lisa Golden
Director of Homelessness Initiatives Maura Fitzpatrick
