by Will Rhatigan | Mar 14, 2025 | Housing News
On March 13, the Healey-Driscoll administration released its first round of ten awards from the new MBTA Communities Catalyst Fund. These grants support activities related to housing development for communities that have committed to creating more homes for their residents by complying with the MBTA Communities Act. The first round of awards is expected to support the creation of 2,332 homes.
Signed into law in 2021 by then Governor Charlie Baker, the MBTA Communities Act asks every municipality adjacent to MBTA service to create at least one zoning district where property owners are allowed to build multifamily buildings like triple deckers, duplexes, and small apartment buildings. Already, 119 Massachusetts communities have passed zoning districts that will allow the creation of reasonably-priced homes.
Key investments in the first round of awards include:
- Acquiring parcels for affordable housing in Somerville, Revere, and Arlington
- Developing sewer and water connections for new homes in Chelsea, Easton, Harvard. Lincoln, and Salem
- Building an ADA-accessible ramp at the North Grafton Commuter Rail Station
CHAPA’s technical assistance program for community engagement is proud to have worked with over 70 communities in achieving compliance with the MBTA Communities Act, and we look forward to many more communities unlocking new homes and state investments in the years to come.
by Jordan Stocker | Mar 13, 2025 | Housing News
The latest Gap Report from NLIHC underscores the ongoing need for investment in affordable housing while highlighting Massachusetts’ relative strength compared to other states. Thanks to strong commitments to public housing, rental assistance, and homelessness prevention, Massachusetts has maintained a larger subsidized affordable housing stock than many other places. However, challenges remain in closing the affordability gap and ensuring that all residents have access to stable housing.
For every 100 extremely low-income (ELI) renters in Massachusetts, only 44 affordable and available homes exist, resulting in a statewide shortage of 183,253 units. This gap has only grown wider, with the number of ELI renters increasing by 10,000 in the past year alone. The shortage is particularly severe for households earning at or below 50% of AMI, where the demand for affordable housing is greatest. Yet restrictive land use policies and other barriers continue to limit the production of new affordable homes, further exacerbating the crisis and making it even harder for the lowest-income households to secure stable housing.
Addressing these challenges will take a comprehensive approach, including sustained investment in rental assistance, increased housing production, and reforms to outdated zoning policies. By taking these steps, Massachusetts can build on its progress and create lasting solutions that ensure more residents have access to safe, affordable homes.
by Matt Noyes | Feb 27, 2025 | Housing News
The legislative work in the State House got fully underway on February 25 with the appointment of committee chairs and committee members.
For the Joint Committee on Housing, Speaker Mariano and Senate President Spilka made significant changes with the appointment of two new chairs, Representative Richard Haggerty of Woburn and Senator Julian Cyr of Truro. Representative Adrianne Pusateri Ramos will serve as the House Vice Chair. Senator Lydia Edwards, Senate Chair of the Committee last session, will stay on as Senate Vice Chair in addition to her new role as Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary.
(CHAPA sends a thanks and congratulations to Representative James Arciero as he moves from his role as Housing Committee Chair for last session to a new leadership opportunity heading up the Joint Committee on Transportation.)
More coming in the next several weeks as bills that were filed in January will be getting new numbers and will be assigned to committees of jurisdiction. Expect committee hearings to be scheduled starting in the next few weeks.
Lots to be done!
by Matt Noyes | Feb 21, 2025 | Housing News
Two weeks after the release of the Statewide Housing Plan, the Unlocking Housing Production commission completed its work with the release of a range of policy recommendations designed to facilitate the creation of the homes Massachusetts needs to thrive.
Building for Tomorrow: Recommendations for Addressing Massachusetts’ Housing Crisis incorporates the work of the Unlocking Housing Production Commission, which was made up of more than a dozen housing leaders from across the Commonwealth.
The report makes a range of proposals with a goal of modernizing the state’s housing policies, lowering production costs, increasing housing supply, and ensuring sustainable and equitable growth. These are divided into four areas of focus:
- Economic Incentives and Workforce Development
- Land Use and Zoning
- Regulations, Codes, and Permitting
- Statewide Planning and Local Coordination
CHAPA applauds the Healey-Driscol Administration for their continued prioritization of housing and for putting forward a bold slate of proposals that hold a great deal of promise in addressing our housing needs.
by Jenna Connolly | Feb 7, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
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.”
by Jenna Connolly | Feb 3, 2025 | Housing News
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.
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