Developers, regional administrators and tenants urged the Joint Committee on Housing to codify the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) so households can rely on a stable, long-term state-funded voucher.

Why it matters: MRVP provides project- and tenant-based rental assistance to very-low-income households and is used to ensure long-term affordability in many developments. Several witnesses said the program’s rules are currently set through the annual budget; codification would create statutory certainty for tenants, administrators and developers.

Testimony and evidence: Tenants described the program’s impact: David Norman, an MRVP recipient at the Forbes Building, said the voucher reduced his rent burden; Carmen Allen, a veteran tenant, said she pays roughly 60% of income without a voucher and would see major relief if MRVP reduced her rent to 30% of income. Regional administrators and developers — including Ann Marie Bellrose of Regional Housing Network and Robert Corley of NeighborWorks Housing Solutions — testified MRVP is essential for long-term affordability and housing production and requested codification. Robert Corley said codifying MRVP would cost the state no additional funds beyond commitments already made and would provide necessary predictability for developers.

Budget context and figures: Senator Lovely said the FY26 budget included funding for MRVP at approximately $253,000,000. Advocates asked the committee to enshrine the program in statute (H1547 / S1008) and to maintain a 30% payment standard and sanitary code requirements for assisted units.

Conclusion: Testimony combined tenant stories about immediate relief and developer arguments about long-term production. Supporters asked the committee to report H1547/S1008 favorably to reduce uncertainty and protect tenants from future programmatic changes.