By THOMAS GRILLO
LYNN—With the city’s poverty rate at 17.9 percent, it is dramatically more cost effective to help families stay in their homes rather than pay for shelter after they become homeless, according to a new report.
The survey, by the Regional Housing Network of Massachusetts, found the Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) program not only keeps thousands of Bay State families in their homes and away from emergency shelter, it also saves taxpayers money. The results of the survey was based on data from housing nonprofits statewide.
“RAFT helps families in jeopardy of losing their housing keep their homes, experience less trauma and uncertainty, and retain their dignity,” said Christopher Norris, MBHP executive director, in a statement. “We consider RAFT crucial in helping families remain in safe, decent homes they can afford as we wait for an increased supply of housing that is affordable to those most in need.”
The program, one of the largest homelessness and eviction prevention programs in the commonwealth, was established to stabilize at-risk families before they enter the emergency shelter system.
In Massachusetts, it costs $36,8552 to house a family in a shelter for nearly a year. But with RAFT payments to needy tenants of up to $4,000 annually, families can stabilize their housing or find a new home.
RAFT payments can be used for back rent and apartment start-up costs, as well as utility bills, child care or furniture.
During 2016, the state authorized $10.4 million in RAFT payments to help 4,065 families avoid homelessness and saved the commonwealth $137 million, the survey said.
The program has proved to be effective, researchers said, with a client return rate of just 5 percent from 2015 and 2016. Of the 4,065 RAFT clients this year, 219 had sought RAFT aid in the previous year.
This shows that the majority of clients use the aid to better their living situation without the need for more aid in the subsequent year, the study found.
Because Massachusetts is the seventh most expensive place in the nation to rent an apartment in the U.S., housing advocates say RAFT is needed now more than ever.
State Rep. Kevin Honan (D-Boston) and state Sen. Linda Dorcena (D-Boston) praised the program and as chairs of the Housing Committee, voted to boost RAFT funding to $13 million, up from $12.5 million.
“Avoiding shelters for families means children still have a comfortable place to do their homework, a kitchen table to eat their dinner and a safe place to sleep,” they wrote in a joint statement. “This report shows that RAFT saves the state hundreds of millions of dollars in avoided shelter costs.”
A number of ways to look at housing in Lynn:
- Essex County family poverty rate: 8.7 percent
- City of Lynn family poverty rate: 17.9 percent
- Renter population in county: 36.9 percent
- Renter population in city: 54.4 percent
- Vacant rental units in county: 3.7 percent
- Vacant rental units in city: 3.6 percent
- Median rent for two-bedroom apartment: $1,567
- Annual income needed to afford two-bedroom apartment: $62,680
- County residents who can’t afford that: about 41.4 percent
- City residents who can’t afford that: about 59.6 percent
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, National Low Income Housing Coalition.
Thomas Grillo can be reached at tgrillo@itemlive.com.