Line Item 4403-2120
4403-2120
For certain expenses of the emergency assistance program as follows: (a) contracted family shelters; (b) transitional housing programs; (c) programs to reduce homelessness in Barnstable, Dukes, Nantucket and Hampden counties; (d) residential education centers for single mothers with children; (e) intake centers; and (f) voucher shelters; provided, that eligibility shall be limited to families with income at or below 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided, however, that any family whose income exceeds 130 per cent of the federal poverty level while the family is receiving assistance funded by this item shall not become ineligible for assistance due to exceeding the income limit for a period of 6 months from the date that the 130 per cent level was exceeded; provided further, that the department shall establish reasonable requirements for such families to escrow some or all of the portion of their income which exceeds 130 per cent of the federal poverty level; provided further, that any such escrowed funds shall be exempt from otherwise applicable asset limits; provided further that the family shall be allowed to withdraw the amount placed in escrow upon transition to permanent housing or losing eligibility for shelter services; provided further, that benefits under this item shall be provided only to residents who are citizens of the United States or aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing under color of law in the United States; provided further, that the department shall take all steps necessary to enforce regulations to prevent abuse in the emergency assistance program; provided further, that no emergency assistance expenditures shall be paid from this item unless explicitly authorized; provided further, that eligible households shall be placed in shelters as close as possible to their home community unless a household requests otherwise; provided further, that if the closest available placement is not within 20 miles of the household’s home community, the household shall be transferred to an appropriate shelter within 20 miles of its home community at the earliest possible date unless the household requests otherwise; provided further, that eligibility for shelter by an otherwise eligible family shall not be impaired by prior receipt of any non-shelter benefit; provided further, that the department shall make every effort to ensure that children receiving services from this item shall continue attending school in the community in which they lived prior to receiving services funded from this item; provided further, that not less than $1,668,180 shall be expended for the Housing Assistance Program operated by Community Action Programs Inter-City, Inc.; provided further, that notwithstanding any other general or special law to the contrary, the department shall immediately provide shelter for up to 30 days to families who appear to be eligible for such shelter based on statements provided by the family and any other information in the possession of the department but who need additional time to obtain any third-party verifications reasonably required by the department; provided further, that shelter benefits received under the preceding proviso shall not render a family ineligible under any regulation providing that a family who previously received shelter is ineligible for shelter benefits for a period of 12 months; provided further, that families receiving such shelter benefits who are found not to be eligible for continuing shelter benefits shall be eligible for aid pending a timely appeal pursuant to section 16 of chapter 18 of the General Laws; provided further, that the department shall not impose unreasonable requirements for third-party verification and shall accept verifications from the family whenever reasonable; provided further, that in promulgating, amending or rescinding regulations with respect to eligibility or benefits under this program, the department shall take into account the amounts available to it for expenditure in this item so as not to exceed the amount appropriated in this item; provided further, that notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating any such eligibility or benefit changes, the commissioner shall file with house and senate committees on ways and means and with the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate a determination by the secretary of health and human services that available appropriations for the program will be insufficient to meet projected expenses and a report setting forth such proposed changes; provided further, that all of this item shall be subject to appropriation and, in the event of a deficiency, nothing in this item shall give rise to or shall be construed as giving rise to any enforceable right or entitlement to services in excess of the amounts appropriated by this item; provided further, that nothing in the preceding proviso shall authorize the department to alter eligibility criteria or benefit levels except to the extent that such changes are needed to avoid a deficiency in this item; provided, that $25,000 shall be expended for education, advocacy and case management services by Casa Latina, located in the City of Northampton; provided further, that an amount not less than $179,381 shall be expended for the Crossroads Family Shelter in East Boston; provided further, that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for a contract with Project Just Because, a non-profit organization in the town of Hopkinton, to assist in providing food, supplies, and services to the indigent and those in danger of becoming homeless across the MetroWest region; provided further that not less than $100,000 shall be expended for the Playspace Programs operated by Horizons for Homeless Children in family shelters; provided further, that contract (RPO) SCWELL4092500010000 with Open Pantry Community Services, Inc., be an amount not less than $545,195; provided further, that not less than $25,000 shall be expended for the River House shelter in Beverly; and provided further that not less than $50,000 shall be expended for the Weymouth Youth and Family Services Teen Center to provide for advocacy, social service programs and to promote growth, social welfare and education ...... $86,921,288