For Immediate Release

Catholic Charities signs on Housing Solutions Campaign

Catholic Charities has joined the Housing Solutions Campaign and signed a letter requesting level funding of at least $35.4 million for the Massachusetts Rental Vouncher Program for FY11 to preserve the number of rental vouchers currently in use. Below is a copy of the letter sent by the Housing Solutions Campaign:

February 25, 2010

The Honorable Charles Murphy
Chairman, House Ways and Means
The State House, Room 360
Boston, MA 02133

re: Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (line item 7004-9024)

Dear Chairman Murphy:

We are writing to you as the Housing Solutions Campaign, a diverse coalition of organizations advocating on behalf of the growing number of Massachusetts residents struggling with housing instability. We know that adequately funding the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) is an absolutely critical way to address what is otherwise lacking for this population – housing they can afford.

MRVP is a proven tool used to prevent and reduce homelessness by providing low income residents with an opportunity to maintain safe, affordable housing. Without rental assistance, this population cannot otherwise enjoy such a basic necessity. As a result, the loss of any voucher will lead to a further spike in homelessness, something the Commonwealth can ill afford. On average the cost of sheltering a family in shelter is about $3,000 per month, while the average cost of an MRVP is less than $600 per month.

In addition to offering housing stability for the households the program serves, MRVP also benefits small property owners by providing a steady stream of rental income during uncertain times. Recently, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released in a publication stating that “every additional $1 spent on rental assistance will likely generate between $1.50 and $2 in additional economic demand.” Together, these benefits stabilize households and neighborhoods while bolstering economic community and economic development in an efficient way.

Accordingly, we respectfully request level funding of at least $35.4 million for the MRVP for FY2011 to preserve the number of vouchers currently in use. We urge you to consider that the loss of any rental vouchers likely will result in MRVP recipients being unable to maintain market rent, rendering them at immediate risk of homelessness, requiring these low income families, elders and people with disabilities to seek out the services of our already over-burdened emergency shelter system.

Thank you for your consideration. Please contact Diane Sullivan of Homes for Families at 617.227.4188 or dsullivan@homesforfamilies.org or Sean Caron of CHAPA at 617.742.0820 or scaron@chapa.org with any questions or concerns. Thank you for your consideration.

Most sincerely,
The Housing Solutions Campaign