Is this the fix for Massachusetts’ housing crisis?
As Heller puts it, “There’s been a lot of good policies that have been put in place over thelast few years. And we need more.”
US moves backward amid steps to close racial gap in homeownership
“We have generational wealth being created by those who had access to homeownership,”Gasser said. “And all the economic benefit that comes from that system perpetuates itself,and unless you’re going to create the supply necessary to create affordable new entrypoints, it’s going to be very difficult to narrow the racial homeownership gap.”
Healey unveils comprehensive housing plan, “just what the state needs”
“It’s a very holistic look at what we need to move forward,” said Jenna Connolly, director of communications and events at the Citizens’ Housing & Planning Association. “It doesn’t just focus on one part of the industry. It really just lays out like this is everything we need in order to have the future we want for Massachusetts.”
Statewide Housing Plan Calls For 220,000 New Homes
A result of more than a year of engagement with stakeholders and the work of the Housing Advisory Committee, Governor Healey released A Home for Everyone: Massachusetts’ Statewide Housing Plan on February 6. A priority for CHAPA, the Affordable Homes Act included a requirement that the Commonwealth develop a statewide housing plan every five years. The Healey-Driscoll Administration launched this process in October 2023 following the filing of the Housing Bond Bill.
The new plan outlines the housing challenges facing Massachusetts, identifies current unmet housing needs, sets goals for production and preservation, and proposes strategies to address the situation. This publication will be followed by others, including expanded needs assessments and strategies.
CHAPA joined the other leaders of the Supportive Housing Pipeline Coalition, a coalition of more than 80 member organizations dedicated to creating the supportive housing needed to address chronic and high-need homelessness, in issuing a statement in support of A Home for Everyone.
Here is the quote from CHAPA CEO Rachel Heller included in the statement:
“The solution to homelessness is housing that is affordable and housing that provides supportive services. We applaud the Healey-Driscoll Administration’s Housing Plan, which sets the Commonwealth on a path to create and preserve the homes needed to reduce and prevent homelessness, expand housing that is accessible for people with disabilities, and provide opportunities for everyone to have safe and healthy homes they can afford in the communities they choose. This plan identifies strategies for creating the diversity of housing needed to meet our wide ranging needs, including supportive housing, public housing, and deeply affordable housing.”
CHAPA Submits Comments on Proposed 40B Regulatory Changes
In December, the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (EOHLC) extended the deadline to submit public comments on proposed regulatory changes to Chapter 40B, Massachusetts’ affordable housing law. Since its enactment, 40B has been one of the most effective tools for creating affordable housing in the Commonwealth, allowing developers to bypass local zoning restrictions in municipalities that have not reached a minimum threshold of affordable homes in their community.
The proposed regulatory changes would eliminate the interlocutory period during which municipalities can claim safe harbor from 40B. It would also direct EOHLC to create a General Land Area Minimum (GLAM) Inventory to provide clear information to developers, municipalities, and residents. Although CHAPA appreciates the attempt by EOHLC to streamline the 40B process, we are concerned that there may be unintended negative consequences for municipalities and for developers.
On January 31, CHAPA submitted written feedback to EOHLC on the proposed regulations. We hope that EOHLC will take the issues raised in our letter into account when the regulations are finalized.