by iwd Tina | May 15, 2023 | Housing News
On May 15, the Healey-Driscoll Administration named Ed Augustus as the Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities in the newly created Executive Office.
According to the Governor’s press release, Augustus previously served as City Manager of Worcester from 2014–2022. Prior to joining the City of Worcester, Augustus served as Director of Government and Community Relations for the College of Holy Cross, State Senator for the 2nd Worcester District, Chief of Staff for Congressman Jim McGovern, and Chief of Staff to the Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental and Interagency Affairs at the U.S. Department of Education under President Clinton’s Administration. He most recently served as Chancellor of Dean College.
“We at CHAPA look forward to working with Secretary Ed Augustus to develop policies and supports to produce the homes that people, our communities, and the Commonwealth need in order to thrive,” said CHAPA CEO Rachel Heller. “Secretary Augustus’s experiences with local, state, and federal government are important for understanding the challenges municipalities face in meeting our housing needs. The Secretary brings knowledge of opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels to bring tools and resources together to produce a mix of rental and homeownership opportunities that offer meaningful choices for people and that are affordable for people with low, moderate, and middle incomes.”
Augustus is expected to begin as Secretary when the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities is officially created on May 30, following the passage of legislation passed on April 30 creating the new office.
by iwd Tina | May 11, 2023 | Housing News
On May 11, HUD launched a Green and Resilient Retrofit Program and issued three Notice of Funding Opportunities.
The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act provides funding for this new program, which includes $837.5 million in grant funding and $4 billion in loan authority for HUD to make investments in energy or water efficiency, indoor air quality, zero-emission energy generation, low-emission building materials or processes, energy storage or climate resilience strategies in HUD Multifamily Assisted Housing.
Specifically, the goals are to:
- Reduce energy and water use in HUD-assisted multifamily properties,
- Make HUD-assisted multifamily properties more resilient to extreme weather events and natural disasters, and
- Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from HUD-assisted multifamily properties.
Eligible properties are those receiving HUD assistance under Multifamily Section 8 project-based rental assistance, Section 202 Supportive Housing for Low-Income Elderly, and Section 811 Supportive Housing for Low-Income Persons with Disabilities.
The GRRP will provide funding in three categories, each with a separate notice of funding opportunity (NOFO):
Element Awards are for properties that are materially advanced in a recapitalization transaction that includes targeted utility efficiency, carbon emissions, reduction, renewable energy and/or climate resilience measures.
Leading Edge Awards are for properties with a significant capacity to execute a rehabilitation that will achieve an advanced green certification.
Comprehensive Awards are for range of properties, including those not yet developed, where the property owner is interested in improving the utility efficiency and resilience to climate hazards.
Property owners can apply in only one category. Properties that receive awards will require at least five years of extended affordability and a minimum of 15 years of affordability.
by iwd Tina | May 10, 2023 | Housing News
On May 9, the Senate Committee on Ways and Means released its FY2024 state budget proposal. The $55.8 billion budget includes increased funding for several of CHAPA’s affordable housing priorities, including MRVP, Public Housing, and RAFT.
The budget also proposed re-instating and making permanent tenant protections that pause eviction cases if there is a pending application for emergency rental assistance – this matches language in the House budget. The Legislature enacted this protection during the COVID emergency. The protection expired on March 31. Advocates, along with CHAPA, are advocating for this protection to be restored.
CHAPA thanks Senate President Spilka, Sen. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, and the entire Senate Ways and Means Committee for their strong support of affordable housing programs.
The Senate will debate the budget the week of May 22. Senators can file amendments to the budget which are due by 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 13. CHAPA will be working with its partners to support amendments that will make the final Senate budget the strongest possible for our affordable housing priorities.
The table below highlights funding proposals for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness prevention programs.
| Line-Item |
Program |
FY2024 Requests |
SWM FY2024 Budget |
House FY2024 Budget |
FY2024 Gov’s Budget |
FY2023 Budget |
| 7004-9024 |
Mass. Rental Voucher Program |
$250,000,000 |
$179,597,023* |
$173,247,567* |
$168,247,567 |
$154,000,000 |
| 7004-9030 |
Alternative Housing Voucher Program |
$26,000,000 |
$16,863,078** |
$14,108,528** |
$14,108,528 |
$13,685,355 |
| 7004-9316 |
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition |
$250,000,000 |
$195,000,000 |
$180,602,462 |
$162,602,462 |
$150,000,000 |
| 7004-9005 |
Public Housing Operating |
$184,000,000 |
$107,000,000 |
$102,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
| 7004-3036 |
Housing Consumer Education Centers |
$10,185,000 |
$8,974,000 |
$9,700,000 |
$8,774,000 |
$9,700,000 |
| 7004-9007 |
Public Housing Reform |
$7,700,000 |
$1,250,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$1,000,000 |
| 7004-0104 |
Home & Healthy for Good |
$8,390,000 |
$6,390,000 |
$8,890,000 |
$4,162,300 |
$6,390,000 |
| 7004-0108 |
HomeBASE |
$60,000,000 |
$39,570,445 |
$42,070,445 |
$42,070,445 |
$59,411,201 |
| 7006-0011 |
Foreclosure & Housing Counseling |
$3,050,000 |
$3,050,000 |
$3,050,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$3,050,000 |
| 7004-3045 |
Tenancy Preservation Program |
$2,000,000 |
$2,042,755 |
$2,042,755 |
$2,042,755 |
$1,800,000 |
| 4120-4001 |
MassAccess Registry |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
| 4000-0007 |
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth |
$12,000,000 |
$11,000,000 |
$10,545,850 |
$10,545,850 |
$9,500,000 |
| 7004-0106 |
New Lease for Homeless Families |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
| NEW |
Fair Housing Trust Fund |
$1,500,000 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
| NEW |
Access to Counsel Program |
$7,000,000 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
* Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for MRVP to an estimated $199.5 million
** Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for AHVP to an estimated $26 million
by iwd Tina | May 4, 2023 | Housing News
Our CHAPA Fair Housing Symposium: From Research to Redress took place last week on April 27th. Information on this year’s symposium, including bios, links, slides, resources, and more, can be found on our Event Page. The event was recorded and can be found on our YouTube channel, where you can view it in full or by presentation/section.
For those who did not get a chance to respond to the survey following the Symposium please take a few minutes via this survey to give us your feedback and let us know what you are working on. As a reminder you are also invited to stay engaged with Homes For Equity.
During the month of April, we shared many resources including books, tools, articles, videos, and more on our social media. If you missed any of them, a summarized list can be found here. We hope that you check them out and share them broadly.
There is much work to do ahead of us. Please consider supporting our CHAPA legislative priorities and furthermore joining our Fair Housing Committee. This Committee meets periodically, bringing together diverse stakeholders from across the state to intentionally advance fair housing and serve as a place to share information, work on legislation, coordinate efforts, and educate ourselves throughout the year.
If you are interested in additional learning opportunities, we invite you to participate in the Confronting the History of Housing Discrimination learning session we host in partnership with JALSA, as well as our Affordable Housing 101 sessions.
We are excited to share that the Municipal Engagement Initiative Program Application will be accepting new applications this month, so stay tuned. We look forward to helping additional communities bolster coalition building efforts locally with fair housing at the forefront. As always, applications for our MEI Lite Program are accepted on a rolling basis.
by iwd Tina | Apr 30, 2023 | Housing News
On April 30, the Legislature allowed legislation to pass filed by Governor Healey to create an Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities and an Executive Office of Economic Development (H.43). This follows a hearing on the bill on March 27 where legislators and those testifying, including CHAPA, expressed their support for the plan.
The Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities will officially be created when the law goes into effect on June 1.
Governor Healey promised during her campaign to elevate housing to a cabinet level office. Article 87 of the Massachusetts Constitution requires the Governor to file a bill with her reorganization plan.
The Governor’s bill elevates the existing Department of Housing and Community Development to an Executive Office. According to the Governor’s filing letter, the legislation also creates a new legislative authorization for the MassWorks program in a new “Housing Works” program to fund municipal infrastructure for housing.
The Senate advanced the bill on April 12. The House took no action on the legislation. Unlike a typical bill, the measure is not subject to amendment and if the Legislature takes no action, the bill passes.
Governor Healey is expected to name the new Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities shortly.
by iwd Tina | Apr 27, 2023 | Housing News
The House added nearly $120 million in spending making the FY2024 fiscal budget total $56.2 billion as it concluded debate on its budget on Wednesday evening, April 26. From the CHAPA’s priority amendments, #498 on HomeBASE improvements was adopted.
The Massachusetts Senate Ways & Means Budget proposal is slated to be released on May 10th with the debate scheduled for later in May.
Below is the summary of some critical programs:
- Mass. Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) – The House funds MRVP at $173 million along with language to carry forward $19 million in unspent funds from FY23 bringing the MRVP total allocation at $192 million
- Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) – The House allocated $14 million along with language to carry forward $10 million in unspent funds from FY23 bringing the AHVP total allocation to $24 million.
- Public Housing – The House proposes increased funding for Public Housing Operating line item at $102 million.
- Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) – The House funds RAFT at $180 million ($20 million over the Governor’s proposal). The Housing Consumer Education Center line item has also received an increased allocation of $9.7 million
- HomeBASE – The House allocates level funding of $42 million for HomeBASE increase in the benefit cap to $30,000 over 2 years and removes incomes increases as terms of eligibility.
CHAPA thanks the Speaker of the House, Ronald Mariano, Chairman of House Ways & Means (HWM) Committee, Aaron Michlewitz, Members of the HWM Committee, Chairman of Housing Commitee, James Arciero, and all the Representatives for championing and supporting the affordable housing priorities.
| Line-Item |
Program |
FY2024 Requests |
House FY2024 Budget |
FY2024 Gov’s Budget |
FY2023 Budget |
| 7004-9024 |
Mass. Rental Voucher Program |
$250,000,000 |
$173,247,567† |
$168,247,567 |
$154,000,000 |
| 7004-9030 |
Alternative Housing Voucher Program |
$26,000,000 |
$14,108,528‡ |
$14,108,528 |
$13,685,355‡ |
| 7004-9316 |
Residential Assistance for Families in Transition |
$250,000,000 |
$180,602,462 |
$162,602,462 |
$150,000,000 |
| 7004-9005 |
Public Housing Operating |
$184,000,000 |
$102,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
$92,000,000 |
| 7004-3036 |
Housing Consumer Education Centers |
$10,185,000 |
$9,700,000 |
$8,774,000 |
$9,700,000 |
| 7004-9007 |
Public Housing Reform |
$7,700,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$2,200,000 |
$1,000,000 |
| 7004-0104 |
Home & Healthy for Good |
$8,390,000 |
$8,890,000 |
$4,162,300 |
$6,390,000 |
| 7004-0108 |
HomeBASE |
$60,000,000 |
$42,070,445 |
$42,070,445 |
$59,411,201 |
| 7006-0011 |
Foreclosure & Housing Counseling |
$3,050,000 |
$3,050,000 |
$1,500,000 |
$3,050,000 |
| 7004-3045 |
Tenancy Preservation Program |
$1,800,000 |
$2,042,755 |
$2,042,755 |
$1,800,000 |
| 4120-4001 |
MassAccess Registry |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
$150,000 |
| 4000-0007 |
Unaccompanied Homeless Youth |
$12,000,000 |
$10,545,850 |
$10,545,850 |
$9,500,000 |
| 7004-0106 |
New Lease for Homeless Families |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
$250,000 |
| NEW |
Fair Housing Trust Fund |
$1,500,000 |
– |
– |
– |
| NEW |
Access to Counsel Program |
$7,000,000 |
– |
– |
– |
† Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for MRVP to an estimated $192.2 million
‡ Includes language to carryover unspent funds from FY23 bringing total FY24 funding for AHVP to an estimated $24 million
