An Act relative to CHAMP that will revert back to local residents receiving priority over applicants that have not been screened as emergency applicants

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by David DeCoste

HD 1878: An Act relative to CHAMP that will revert back to local residents receiving priority over applicants that have not been screened as emergency applicantsOverview- Bill Numb

HD 1878: An Act relative to CHAMP that will revert back to local residents receiving priority over applicants that have not been screened as emergency applicants

Overview
- Bill Number: HD 1878
- Title: An Act relative to CHAMP that will revert back to local residents receiving priority over applicants that have not been screened as emergency applicants
- Status: Proposed bill
- Introduced: November 29, 2025

Purpose and Intent
This bill aims to modify the CHAMP (Comprehensive Housing Assistance for Massachusetts Populations) program to prioritize housing assistance for local residents over non-emergency applicants from outside the area. The intent is to ensure that limited housing resources are directed towards addressing the immediate needs of the local community, rather than being allocated to applicants who may not face the same level of housing insecurity.

Key Provisions
- Reverts the CHAMP program's applicant prioritization to favor local residents over non-emergency applicants from outside the area
- Requires CHAMP administrators to establish clear criteria for determining "emergency" status for non-local applicants
- Mandates that a minimum of 75% of CHAMP housing assistance be allocated to local residents, with the remaining 25% available for non-emergency applicants
- Directs the state housing authority to develop and implement a streamlined application process for local residents to access CHAMP resources

Affected Parties and Impacts
- Local residents in need of housing assistance will be prioritized for CHAMP resources, potentially increasing their access to these critical programs
- Non-emergency applicants from outside the local area may face more difficulty securing CHAMP housing assistance, as their applications will be given lower priority
- CHAMP administrators will be required to establish new criteria and processes to determine "emergency" status for non-local applicants
- The state housing authority will need to update the CHAMP application system and outreach efforts to accommodate the new prioritization requirements

Procedural and Timeline Considerations
The bill has been introduced in the state legislature and is currently under consideration. If passed, the proposed changes to the CHAMP program would take effect within 6 months of the bill's enactment, allowing time for the state housing authority to implement the necessary administrative changes.