Information for State Tenants
From 760 CMR 6.09(3)(c):
(c) LTO Funding by the LHA. Upon request the LHA shall fund all LTOs in a city or town at the annual rate of $25.00 per state-aided public housing unit occupied or available for occupancy by residents represented by such LTO(s) or an annual total of $500.00 prorated among all such LTO(s), whichever is more. The LHA shall disburse such funds to an LTO pursuant to an approved budget, which provides that funds will be used only for the LTO’s ordinary and necessary business expenses and authorized activities (excluding social activities) with respect to state aided housing programs. The LTO shall not make any expenditure of funds received from the LHA except in accordance with such a budget
approved by the LHA which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The LTO must submit a financial statement to the LHA at the end of the LHA’s fiscal year, accounting for all LTO income from the state aided housing portfolio and all expenditures of such funds in accordance with their approved budget. The next year’s LTO funding will not be awarded until such statement has been reviewed and approved by the LHA.
From Public Housing Notice 2024-07:
“Amended LTO funding is effective June 7, 2024. To receive an increase in funding, LTOs must submit a revised budget for LHA approval that reflects the increase in LTO funding authorized by the revision of 760 CMR 6.09(3)(c). Once an LTO budget is approved by the LHA, the LHA will then disburse the revised LTO funding. The LHA should account for the LTO increase in any budget revision. No action is required if the LTO’s budget would not increase based upon the new per occupied unit funding.”
From the FY25 Budget Guidelines (PHN 2024-13):
4191: Tenant Organization
1. LTO Funding by the LHA.
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- Upon request, the LHA shall fund all LTOs in a city or town at the annual rate of $25 .00 per state-aided public housing unit occupied or available for occupancy by residents represented by such LTO(s), or an annual total of $500.00 prorated among all such LTO(s), whichever is more. For more information on the creation and funding of LTOs, refer to 760 CMR 6.09.
- The LHA shall disburse such funds to an LTO pursuant to an approved budget, which provides that funds will be used only for the LTO’s ordinary and necessary business expenses and authorized activities with respect to state-aided housing programs. While purely social activities are not eligible expenditures, LTOs may expend funds for activities that facilitate resident engagement with the LTO and LHA – for example, a LTO may provide light refreshments at meetings. The LTO shall not make any expenditure of funds received from the LHA except in accordance with a budget approved by the LHA which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld. The LTO must submit a financial statement to the LHA at the end of the LHA’s fiscal year, accounting for all LTO income from the state-aided housing portfolio and all expenditures of such funds in accordance with their approved budget. The next year’s LTO funding will not be awarded until such statement has been reviewed and approved by the LHA.
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- These funds shall only be provided to the tenant organization for purposes that enable it to carry out its primary function. Namely, effective participation in the administration and management of the housing authority. Examples of allowable expenses include: office equipment; special stationery; telephone costs beyond basic service; attendance at relevant conferences; payment of dues to state tenant organizations, or light refreshments at a tenants’ meeting. Ineligible expenses would include: any item or activity prohibited by law; political or religious contributions; recreational or social events; or payments to benefit individual tenants or household members.
- In addition, pursuant to Tenant Participation Regulations, each housing authority should make available to each duly recognized tenant organization upon request: reasonable space for an office; a reasonable supply of office furniture and consumable office supplies, such as a computer, lockable filing cabinet, access to a printer and copier; the installation and basic service costs for a private telephone line (the tenant organization must pay for its own long-distance calls) or reimbursement for the minimum cost of basic in-state telephone service, LHAs are encouraged to support LTOs in securing internet services, such as through access to office Wi-Fi; and to provide the use of available common rooms for tenant organization meetings.