Initiatives For State Action on
Affordable Housing in 2010

Protect the ability of non-profit organizations with federal tax-exempt charitable status to rent condos and/or townhouses that they own in order to provide affordable housing.

The provisions in HB 5125 passed both houses as part of SB 3180. SB 3180 awaits the Governor's signature.

Upon motion of the homeowner, this bill allows foreclosure judges to reject the foreclosure sale if he/she finds that the lender has not complied with loss mitigation requirements that are part of the federal Making Home Affordable Program.

HB 5735 passed both houses and awaits the Governor's signature.

This bill will protect victims of domestic violence, dating violence, stalking, and sexual assault from unlawful evictions by providing them with an affirmative defense to an eviction if it is solely based upon the victim’s status or solely due to actual or threatened incidents of violence.

HB 5523 passed both houses and awaits the Governor’s signature.

The Homelessness Prevention Program provides financial assistance to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless and helps those who are experiencing homelessness to be quickly re-housed and stabilized. For fiscal year 2010, funding was reduced to $2.4 million from $11 million in the previous fiscal year—a 78% cut. While the federal Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing Program (HPRP) stimulus funds have very similar allowable uses, we need to restore state funding to insure that resources are available when HPRP funds are exhausted.

The legislature has not passed a final budget as of May 11th.

Restore prior year budget cuts for the Emergency Food and Shelter Program. The program provides overnight shelters, transitional housing and supportive services. Funding for fiscal year 2010 is $9.1 million while funding in fiscal year 2003 was $9.7 million. We will also request the renaming of the “Emergency Food & Shelter” line item to “Emergency and Transitional Housing.” This proposed name more fully captures the role of overnight shelters and transitional housing programs in the long-term process of rehousing individuals and families.

The legislature has not passed a final budget as of May 11th.