Today, MHSA released an executive summary about the COVID-19 Permanent Supportive Housing Relief Funds that were secured in the FY2020 Supplemental Budget.
At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, MHSA gathered permanent supportive housing (PSH) providers from across the state to learn about their challenges and the unmet costs associated with keeping their staff and tenants safe amidst COVID-19 uncertainty. Many of these tenants are in housing with shared bathrooms and kitchens. They are among the most vulnerable individuals across the state, frequently with long histories of homelessness and complex, disabling conditions.
The PSH providers faced mounting costs not covered by federal emergency relief – from lost rent to increased cleaning to staff hazard pay. MHSA brought these needs to the attention of the state legislature and successfully secured resources in the FY2020 Supplemental Budget.
The COVID-19 PSH Relief Funds Executive Summary details the full impact of these funds across Massachusetts: $4 million distributed to 35 provider agencies to assist 2,100+ housing units with COVID-19 relief funds! Unallocated funds will cover other PSH needs in the year ahead.
MHSA would like to thank:
- Massachusetts state legislature for making these resources possible through the FY20 Supplemental Budget,
- Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) for administering the contract with MHSA,
- United Way of Massachusetts Bay and Merrimack Valley for partnering with MHSA to distribute the funds,
- The permanent supportive housing providers who have worked so hard to keep people safely housed during the pandemic.