Housing News

On December 14, 2022, the Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) issued their opinion in the case of TERRENCE MARENGI et al vs. 6 FOREST ROAD, LLC et al (Marengi), in favor of the application of the bond provision to the comprehensive permit law. Marengi involves a group of abutters challenging an order requiring them to

December 14, 2022 — BOSTON — A new report from a partnership of housing groups finds that Massachusetts could provide affordable housing for 240,000 families by investing in a statewide expansion of the state’s housing voucher program. The report, entitled A Right to Rental Assistance in Massachusetts, estimates that making the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) available to all eligible households would cost $3.2 billion annually.

On December 8, the Baker Administration awarded $93.4 million to build 790 homes in 14 communities. The award included $29.4 million in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Governor Baker announced the awards as part of a housing roundtable discussion, which included CHAPA’s CEO Rachel Heller, about the Baker-Polito Administration’s progress in expanding access to housing in Massachusetts over the past eight years.

CHAPA is hiring an additional Municipal Engagement Program Associate. The Municipal Engagement Program Associate will work to build support for affordable housing production and bolster efforts to expand housing opportunities at the local level in communities across the Commonwealth. Please find more details and how to apply on our Jobs Board posting. Applications are due by January 6, 2023.

Governor-Elect Maura Healey and Attorney General-Elect Andrea Campbell named two members of CHAPA’s staff to their transition teams. Rachel Heller, CEO, will serve on the Healey-Driscall transition. Eric Shupin, Director of Public Policy, will work on Campbell’s transition. Heller and Shupin will advise the incoming Governor and Attorney General, respectively, on affordable housing policy as they prepare to take office in January.  

On November 18th, Governor Baker filed a Supplemental budget H.5394 to provide housing and other necessary services for refugees and migrants. The arrival of refugees and migrants from countries like Afghanistan, Haiti, Venezuela, and Ukraine has led to increased demand for emergency shelters in Massachusetts. The Governor proposes establishing a reserve of $130 million through the supplemental budget for increased shelter capacity, healthcare costs, and services across all state agencies responding to the increased need. 

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) released its Compliance Model for estimating the key zoning metrics required under Section 3A of the Zoning Act, which requires communities served by the MBTA to have at least one reasonably sized zoning district where multifamily housing is allowed by-right. 

On November 10, Governor Baker signed the Economic Development Bill into law. The Legislature sent the Governor a final bill on November 2, after months of delay following the end of the legislative session this summer. The Governor vetoed only $1.1 million from the $3.76 billion bill and several outside sections. The Governor left in place all the affordable housing related spending and policy sections in the bill. This includes:

We are pleased to announce that CHAPA is currently seeking additional communities on a rolling basis for our MEI Lite Program, a lighter touch program of our Municipal Engagement Initiative, that will help to set communities up for coalition building efforts on their own.

On November 2, a final Economic Development Bill (H.5374) emerged from its conference committee in the state Legislature. Uncertainty caused by an obscure tax rebate law triggered by stronger-than-expected tax collections delayed the bill's progress since the end of formal legislative sessions on July 31, 2022. The conference committee presented a slimmed down Economic Development Bill compared to the versions passed earlier this year by the House and Senate. The final bill dropped certain tax relief proposals and any capital spending approvals.