Governor Maura Healey has proposed a 16% increase in funding for the Mass. Rental Voucher Program in fiscal 2026, bringing it to $253 million. While this increase is meant to keep up with inflation due to high housing prices, housing advocates argue that it would not be enough to make new vouchers available to the 160,000-person waitlist.
The program provides rental assistance to low-income families, with eligibility based on earning less than 80% of the median income in their area. Advocates, such as the Mass. Alliance of HUD Tenants, are lobbying for a $300 million investment in the program, representing a 37% increase over the current allocation.
With federal funding cuts looming for Section 8 federal rental vouchers, the state program is becoming even more critical. Last year, a 22% boost to MRVP brought 900 new vouchers online. To keep up with increasing rents, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities has started using zip-code level data for its mobile voucher program to make vouchers more competitive in expensive markets.
During a budget hearing, Sen. Jake Oliviera stressed the importance of investing in the program to combat rising rent costs that are outpacing inflation rates. Augustus, the Housing and Livable Communities Secretary, emphasized the need to build more housing to alleviate pressure on the housing market and make housing more affordable for lower-wage and lower-income residents.
Advocates and housing organizations plan to continue pushing for increased investment in the program and legislation to codify it into law to help address the growing need for affordable housing in Massachusetts.
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