State Senate Releases ARPA Spending Plan Proposal with $600 Million for Affordable Housing

by iwd Tina | Nov 3, 2021 | Housing News

On November 3, 2021, the Senate Ways and Means Committee and other House leaders released a $3.67 billion plan for spending a majority of the state’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fiscal recovery funding.

CHAPA thanks Chairman Rodrigues and the members of the Senate Ways and Means Committee for prioritizing $600 million towards affordable housing. Their housing investments are outlined below:

Affordable Housing Investments

The spending plan (S.2564) provides $600 million for supportive housing, public housing, homeownership, and affordable housing production. These investments will provide homeownership aid, housing production, and maintenance, with a focus on developing both affordable housing and supportive housing stock as a much-needed response to ongoing housing instability and homelessness.

A summary of the funding allocation breakdown is provided below:

• $150 million for Supportive Housing Production
• $150 million for Public Housing Maintenance
• $50 million for Homeownership Assistance to help first-time homebuyers
• $125 million for CommonWealth Builder Program to build new affordable homeownership opportunities
• $125 million for Affordable Housing Production

Please see the S.2564 Summary and Text for more information on the bill.

The Senate and House both included $600 million for affordable housing but included several different funding amounts for CHAPA’s priorities. Please see a comparison of the spending amounts in the Senate Ways & Means, House, and Governor’s proposals.

CHAPA’s ARPA Priorities

CHAPA is encouraged to see initial investments in many of our ARPA priorities in the Senate’s initial spending plan. As a reminder, CHAPA and its partners have requested $1.683 billion of the Commonwealth’s ARPA fiscal recovery funds be allocated towards affordable housing.

Please see CHAPA’s ARPA Fiscal Recovery Funds Fact Sheet and testimony for more information.

There are still many priorities that need to be considered for the Commonwealth to have the tools it needs to address our housing crisis. We urge the legislature to further consider some of CHAPA’s priorities in its allocation of funding, including the following:

• $100M for Housing Rehabilitation
• $78M for a Statewide Right to Counsel Program
• $50M for Acquisition of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing
• $5M for Tenant Outreach and Assistance

What Comes Next?

The Senate will debate S.2564 on Wednesday, November 10. Senators have until 5:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5, to file amendments. CHAPA is working with its partners on potential amendments for the spending package and will follow-up with more details soon, including steps you can take to help strengthen the spending plan for affordable housing.

Once the Senate finishes debate and passes their spending proposal, the House and Senate will work to reconcile the differences between their proposals before sending a final bill to the Governor for his signature.

CHAPA encourages our partners to continue to contact their State Senators and ask them to prioritize CHAPA’s $1.683 billion ARPA priorities for affordable housing. Please see the CHAPA ARPA Advocacy Toolkit for more details.

For any questions about these priorities, please contact Ryan Dominguez at rdominguez@chapa.org or 617-684-4713

MA House Finalizes ARPA Spending Plan Proposal with $600 Million for Affordable Housing

by iwd Tina | Nov 2, 2021 | Housing News

On October 26, 2021, the Massachusetts House of Representatives finalized its $3.82 billion plan for spending a majority of the state’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fiscal recovery funding. The plan calls for $1.15 billion to come from last year’s budget surplus and the rest to be taken from the state’s ~$5 billion ARPA fiscal recovery funds allocation. This allows for ~$2.4 billion of the State’s ARPA fiscal recovery dollars to remain unspent and be obligated at a later date.

CHAPA thanks Speaker Mariano, House Ways and Means Chair Michlewitz, Housing Committee Chair Arciero, and the all the members of the House for prioritizing $600 million towards affordable housing. Their housing investments are outlined below:

Affordable Housing Investments

The final House spending plan (H.4234) provides $600 million for supportive housing, public housing, homeownership, and affordable housing production and preservation. These investments will provide homeownership aid, housing production, and maintenance, with a focus on developing both affordable housing and supportive housing stock as a much-needed response to ongoing housing instability and homelessness.

A summary of the funding allocation breakdown is provided below:

• $150 million for Supportive Housing Production
• $150 million for Public Housing Maintenance
• $100 million for Homeownership Assistance to help first-time homebuyers
• $100 million for CommonWealth Builder Program to build new affordable homeownership opportunities
• $100 million for Affordable Housing Production & Preservation

During the debate of the bill, the House adopted two CHAPA priority amendments that made language changes. The first language change allows funds for creating new affordable rental housing to also be used for preserving existing affordable housing. The second language change allows funds for supportive housing to serve not only individuals experiencing chronic homelessness but also families, youth, and young adults.

Please see the bill’s language for these affordable housing investments for more details on the programs.

CHAPA thanks all the House members who sponsored and co-sponsored our priority amendments.

Unfortunately, several of our priority amendments were not adopted, including funding for a statewide legal assistance program to help residents with low-incomes facing eviction.

The Senate Committee on Ways and Means is expected to release its ARPA spending plan sometime during the week of November 1, followed by the Senate’s debate on the bill.

The Legislature hopes to send a final ARPA spending bill to the Governor by the Thanksgiving recess, starting November 17.

CHAPA encourages our partners to continue to contact their State Senators and ask them to prioritize CHAPA’s $1.683 billion ARPA priorities for affordable housing. Please see the CHAPA ARPA Advocacy Toolkit for more details.

Action Alert: Ask Your State Representative to Co-Sponsor CHAPA’s Amendments in the State’s ARPA Fiscal Recovery Plan

by iwd Tina | Oct 27, 2021 | Housing News

On October 25th, the House Ways and Means Committee and other House leaders released a $3.65 billion plan for spending a majority of the state’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fiscal recovery funding. CHAPA thanks Chairman Michlewitz and the members of the House Ways and Means and Federal Stimulus and Racial Equity Oversight Committees for prioritizing $600 million towards affordable housing. Read more about the House’s proposal on CHAPA’s website.

This Thursday, the House will debate its spending plan (H.4219). We are currently working to strengthen the language of our current affordable housing programs while also expanding investments for housing rehabilitation and a statewide right to counsel program. We have proposed amendments to the spending plan in order to accomplish these goals. More detail about the amendments can be found below.

Please call or email your State Representative today and ask them to co-sponsor the following amendments:

You can use the following script in your message to your State Representative:

Hello, I am [NAME] from [CITY or TOWN] in the Representative’s district. Housing is the single best investment Massachusetts can make to secure a healthy future for all. Substantial investments to support affordable housing production, preservation, and rehabilitation, public housing, homeownership, supportive housing, and a statewide right to counsel program are important for our recovery for the pandemic. I am requesting that the Representative support and sign on to co-sponsor the following amendments. [LIST THE AMENDMENTS BELOW]. Thank you.

#594 – Housing and Eviction Representation Program

Sponsored by Reps. Ruth Balser & Michael Day

Reps. Balser and Day’s amendment provides $78 million for housing stability and homelessness prevention to those at risk of eviction by providing legal assistance to tenants and qualified landlords to improve equity in legal representation. Providing access to an attorney during eviction cases is proven effective at securing fair and favorable outcomes, preventing homelessness, reducing trauma, and creating stronger communities.

#349 – MA Healthy Homes Initiative

Sponsored by Rep. David LeBoeuf

Rep. LeBoeuf’s amendment provides $25 million to support the rehabilitation of homes to address a wide range of health and safety issues, including lead paint removal, replacement of lead water pipes, elimination of mold and other health hazards. The Massachusetts housing stock is among the oldest in the country. These funds will help approximately 1,000 homes across the Commonwealth safe for families, children, and seniors.

#280 – Flexible Housing Pool

Sponsored by Rep. Joan Meschino

Rep. Meschino’s amendment allows funds for supportive housing to serve not only individuals experiencing chronic homelessness but also families, youth, and young adults. This language change will help even more residents access the services they need to stay in a safe, affordable home and avoid homelessness or returning to a shelter.

#827 – First Time Homeownership Assistance

Sponsored by Rep. Andy Vargas

Rep. Vargas’s amendment allows funds for homeownership assistance to be used for debt reduction programs, like for paying down student loans, in order to help first-time homebuyers. The amendment would help break down additional barriers to homeownership that can help lower mortgage interest rates and repair credit.

#398 – Encouraging the Preservation of Affordable Housing

Sponsored by Reps. Jay Livingstone & Rob Consalvo

Reps. Livingstone and Consalvo’s amendment allows funds for creating new affordable rental housing to also be used for preserving existing affordable housing. Preserving our current affordable homes is an important and cost-effective way to ensure that we do not lose any affordable housing as we build new homes.

#191 – CommonWealth Builders

Sponsored by Rep. Russell Holmes

Rep. Holmes’s amendment provides an additional $100 million for the CommonWealth Builders program to create more affordable homeownership opportunities for households with low- and moderate-incomes. This will build more homes to further reduce the racial homeownership and wealth gaps in Massachusetts.

#810 – First Time Homebuyer Assistance

Sponsored by Rep. Carlos González

Rep. González’s amendment provides an additional $200 million to expand resources for first-time homebuyers, targeting those in disproportionately impacted communities. These resources include down payment assistance, mortgage interest subsidy programs, and housing counseling.

#965 – Affordable Housing Production

Sponsored by Rep. Joe McGonagle

Rep. Holmes’s amendment provides an additional $100 million for creating new affordable rental homes in communities across Massachusetts. Together, this investment could create safe, healthy, and affordable homes for a more than 6,000 residents across the Commonwealth

Thank you for your advocacy and for your support of CHAPA’s priorities. If you have any questions, please contact Ryan Dominguez, CHAPA’s Policy Analyst, at 617-684-4713.

MA House Releases ARPA Spending Plan Proposal with $600 Million for Affordable Housing

by iwd Tina | Oct 26, 2021 | Housing News

On October 25, 2021, the House Ways and Means Committee and other House leaders released a $3.65 billion plan for spending a majority of the state’s federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fiscal recovery funding. The plan calls for $1.15 billion to come from last year’s budget surplus and the rest to be taken from the state’s ~$5 billion ARPA fiscal recovery funds allocation. This allows for ~$2.4 billion of the State’s ARPA fiscal recovery dollars to remain unspent and be obligated at a later date.

CHAPA thanks Chairman Michlewitz and the members of the House Ways and Means and Federal Stimulus and Racial Equity Oversight Committees for prioritizing $600 million towards affordable housing. Their housing investments are outlined below:

Affordable Housing Investments

The spending plan (H.4219) provides $600 million for supportive housing, public housing, homeownership, and affordable housing production. These investments will provide homeownership aid, housing production, and maintenance, with a focus on developing both affordable housing and supportive housing stock as a much-needed response to ongoing housing instability and homelessness.

A summary of the funding allocation breakdown is provided below:

• $150 million for Supportive Housing Production
• $150 million for Public Housing Maintenance
• $100 million for Homeownership Assistance to help first-time homebuyers
• $100 million for CommonWealth Builder Program to build new affordable homeownership opportunities
• $100 million for Affordable Housing Production

Please see the bill’s language for these affordable housing investments for more details on the programs.

Please see the H.4219 Summary and Text for more information on the bill.

CHAPA’s ARPA Priorities

CHAPA is encouraged to see initial investments in many of CHAPA’s ARPA priorities in the Commonwealth’s initial spending plan. As a reminder, CHAPA and its partners have requested $1.683 billion of the Commonwealth’s ARPA fiscal recovery funds be allocated towards affordable housing.

Please see CHAPA’s ARPA Fiscal Recovery Funds Fact Sheet and testimony for more information.

There are still many priorities that need to be considered for the Commonwealth to have the tools it needs to address our housing crisis. We urge the legislature to further consider some of CHAPA’s priorities in its allocation of funding, including the following:

• $100M for Housing Rehabilitation
• $78M for a Statewide Right to Counsel Program
• $50M for Acquisition of Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing
• $5M for Tenant Outreach and Assistance

What Comes Next?

The Legislature will now begin debating H.4219 this week. Representatives in the House have until 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 26, to file amendments. CHAPA is working with its partners on potential amendments for the spending package and will follow-up with more details soon, including steps you can take to help strengthen the spending plan for affordable housing.

The House plans to take up the bill and debate it on Thursday afternoon. The Senate is expected to take up the bill shortly thereafter.

CHAPA encourages our partners to continue to contact their State Representatives and Senators and ask them to prioritize CHAPA’s $1.683 billion ARPA priorities for affordable housing. Please see the CHAPA ARPA Advocacy Toolkit for more details.

For any questions about these priorities, please contact Ryan Dominguez at rdominguez@chapa.org or 617-684-4713.

MHP Announces RFQ: Homeownership Counseling and Foreclosure Prevention Services for the Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund

by iwd Tina | Oct 22, 2021 | Housing News

Request for Qualifications

Homeownership Counseling and Foreclosure Prevention Services
for the Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund

The Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP) is issuing this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) seeking qualified organizations with an interest in providing regional homeownership counseling and foreclosure prevention services as part of a statewide coverage network in support of the Massachusetts Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Program.

The Massachusetts HAF Program aims to assist income-eligible Massachusetts homeowners who, due to the impact of COVID-19, have suffered financial hardship (Eligible Homeowners) that is impacting their ability to pay their mortgages and other homeownership-related expenses (Eligible Expenses).

On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) became law. Section 3206 created the federal HAF to help Eligible Homeowners with Eligible Expenses. Subsequently, the U.S. Department of the Treasury provided a website announcement, including a Notice of Funds Request, and on April 14, 2021, as amended on August 2, 2021, published Housing Assistance Fund Guidance (Treasury Guidance).

Under the federal HAF program, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, through its Executive Office for Administration and Finance (A&F), will receive $178 million to fund the Massachusetts HAF Program. MHP expects to be contracted by A&F to administer the housing counseling and foreclosure prevention portion of the Massachusetts HAF Program, which is anticipated to be supported with up to $8.9 million and is seeking qualified organizations related to the offering of such services.

Request for Qualifications responses (in PDF format) must be submitted no later than 5 p.m., Friday, November 5, 2021, via email to:

Elliot Schmiedl
Director of Homeownership
eschmiedl@mhp.net 

David Worsham
Associate Director of Homeownership
dworsham@mhp.net