Former Rep. Marcia Fudge Confirmed as HUD Secretary

by | Mar 10, 2021 | Housing News

On Wednesday, March 10th, the Senate voted 66-34 to confirm former Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH-11) as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Secretary Fudge becomes the first Black woman in decades to head the agency and will be charged with addressing the challenges of America’s housing crisis that have been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CHAPA and the New England Housing Network look forward to working with Secretary Fudge and HUD to provide safe, healthy, and affordable homes for our families in Massachusetts and across the region.

Congress Passes $1.9 Trillion American Rescue Plan of 2021

by | Mar 10, 2021 | Housing News

On Wednesday, March 10th, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan of 2021. In total, the bill contains $1.9 trillion in comprehensive COVID-19 relief, including $1,400 stimulus checks, extension of unemployment insurance, and direct aid to state and local governments.

The American Rescue Plan of 2021 also includes the following affordable housing resources:

  • $21.55 billion for the Emergency Rental Assistance program;
  • $9.96 billion to establish a Homeowner Assistance Fund that would be administered by the Treasury Department;
  • $5 billion for homelessness assistance and supportive services;
  • $5 billion in emergency housing vouchers;
  • $800 million to identify and provide children and youth experiencing homelessness with wrap-around services amid the pandemic;
  • $750 million for housing assistance and supportive services for Native Americans;
  • $100 million to assist tenants living in USDA-subsidized developments;
  • $100 million for housing counseling;
  • $39 million for direct loans made under Section 502 and 504; and
  • $20 million for the Fair Housing Initiative Program.

President Biden is expected to sign the legislation into law before the end of the week.

DHCD Announces $34 Million in CDBG Awards

by | Mar 2, 2021 | Housing News

On March 2, DHCD announced $34 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) awards to 41 communities. The awards will help will help cities and towns rehabilitate more than 350 homes, fund 17 infrastructure improvement projects, and support programming for children, teenagers, survivors of domestic violence, homeless individuals, and the elderly.

CDBG funds local community development activities with the stated goal of providing affordable housing, anti-poverty programs, and infrastructure development.

CDBG Awards

AMESBURY will receive $550,000 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 10 units and an after school program for youth.

AMHERST will receive $825,000 for Mill Lane infrastructure improvements, housing authority modernization, microenterprise assistance to 25 businesses, and to provide support for a food pantry, youth mentoring, adult literacy, immigrant services and family stabilization services.

ATHOL will receive $800,000 for infrastructure improvements to Walnut Street neighborhood.

BLANDFORD will receive $449,825 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 12 units and to produce and ADA Transition plan.

BUCKLAND will receive $756,798 for infrastructure improvements to Lower Ashfield Street and to support a food pantry.

CHELSEA will receive $825,000 for Cherry Street road and sidewalk improvements, Chelsea Square Park improvements, housing rehabilitation assistance for 4 units and social service assistance to include youth services, ESOL and citizenship training.

CHESTER, HUNTINGTON, MIDDLEFIELD will receive $1,300,000 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 6 units, Prospect Street infrastructure improvements and social service assistance for domestic violence prevention, family health, elder services and to support a food pantry.

CHESTERFIELD, CUMMINGTON, GOSHEN, PERU, PLAINFIELD and WILLIAMSBURG, WORTHINGTON will receive $1,300,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 16 units, design for a senior center and to provide childcare assistance, elder services and to support a food pantry.

DALTON, BECKETT, SHEFFIELD, STOCKBRIDGE will receive $1,298,304 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 20 units and to produce ADA Plans for Dalton, Beckett and Stockbridge.

DENNIS, BREWSTER, WELLFLEET will receive $1,300,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 15 units and childcare assistance.

EASTHAMPTON will receive $800,000 for infrastructure improvements to Admiral Street neighborhood.

EDGARTOWN, AQUINNAH and WEST TISBURY will receive $1,300,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 25 units and to provide childcare assistance.

EGREMONT, GREAT BARRINGTON, SANDISFIELD will receive $1,300,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 29 units.

EVERETT will receive $825,000 to provide design for Chelsea Street playground improvements, a housing production plan, housing rehabilitation assistance for 11 units and social service assistance to include homelessness prevention, ESOL, youth services, elder services and a food pantry.

GARDNER will receive $825,000 for downtown infrastructure improvements, design for downtown infrastructure improvements and Park Street park improvements and social service assistance to include youth services, substance abuse service and domestic violence prevention services.

GREENFIELD will receive $825,000 for West Street infrastructure improvements, downtown revitalization planning and to support a food pantry, elder services and adult literacy.

HEATH AND HAWLEY will receive $876,713 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 16 units.

HOLLAND AND WALES will receive $582,200 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 12 units, design for Union Road infrastructure improvements and social service assistance for domestic violence prevention and to support a food pantry.

HUNTINGTON will receive $572,248 for infrastructure improvements to Crescent Street and ADA improvements to town hall.

LEICESTER will receive $335,200 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 7 units and design for ADA improvements to Russell Memorial park.

MARLBOROUGH will receive $799,455 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 10 units, roof repairs to Liberty Hill public housing, infrastructure improvements to Harrison Place and youth services.

METHUEN will receive $550,000 for ADA improvements to Broadway Street and social service assistance for youth services, childcare, elder transportation and adult literacy.

MILLBURY AND DUDLEY will receive $664,500 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 15 units, design for Pear-Maple infrastructure improvements in Millbury and design for Millbury senior center improvements.

MONTAGUE will receive $675,519 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 2 units, Avenue A streetscape improvements, design for Hillcrest playground improvements and to provide social services to include family counseling, recovery counseling, a meals program and youth services.

NORTH ADAMS will receive $825,000 for Liberty and North Holden Street improvements, senior center improvements and social services.

NORTH BROOKFIELD AND BROOKFIELD will receive $661,500 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 14 units and North Brookfield senior center improvements.

NORTHBRIDGE will receive $800,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 14 units and planning to prepare an area wide slum and blight inventory.

OAK BLUFFS, CHILMARK and TISBURY will receive $1,300,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 25 units and to provide childcare assistance.

ORANGE will receive $575,342 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 5 units and social service assistance for disability services, mediation services, family counseling, adult education and a food pantry.

PALMER will receive $825,000 to provide housing rehabilitation to 15 units, Hyrniewicz Park design, a housing production plan and domestic violence prevention and transportation services.

ROCKLAND will receive $729,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 11 units and housing authority modernization.

SALISBURY will receive $550,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 8 units, design for Meanders Lane neighborhood improvements and social services assistance to Boys and Girls Club, childcare and homelessness and food pantry.

SHELBURNE will receive $787,832 for Bridge Street infrastructure improvements and to support a food pantry.

SOUTH HADLEY will receive $512,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 12 units and design for Center Street improvements.

SOUTHBRIDGE will receive $825,000 for West Street roadway improvements, McCann Field improvement and code enforcement.

SOUTHWICK will receive $468,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 6 units, design for North Lake Avenue infrastructure improvements and to support a food pantry.

TRURO, EASTHAM and PROVINCETOWN will receive $1,300,000 to provide housing rehabilitation assistance to 25 units and to provide childcare assistance.

WARE will receive $800,000 for Bank Street infrastructure improvements and social services assistance for domestic violence prevention, health services and literacy services.

WAREHAM will receive $825,000 for housing rehabilitation assistance to 8 units, Bayview Park sidewalk improvements, and support for a food pantry, homelessness prevention, Boys and Girls Club, and literacy and transportation services.

WEBSTER will receive $825,000 for Granite Street infrastructure improvements and downtown and Riverwalk improvements.

WEST SPRINGFIELD will receive $825,000 to provide public facilities improvements (Boys and Girls Club), Chapin Street infrastructure improvements, code enforcement, FTHB program, ESOL, employment training and Head Start.

WINCHENDON will receive $715,510 for Railroad Street infrastructure improvements and to provide fuel assistance.

Baker Administration Awards $46 Million for Affordable Housing

by | Mar 2, 2021 | Housing News

On March 2, the Baker-Politio Administration announced $46 million in affordable housing awards that will support 12 projects in 8 communities, creating 572 new homes, including 507 affordable homes, with 108 reserved for extremely low-income households.

The Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is providing $46.1 million in direct subsidies, and awarding 73 project-based Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program vouchers and 67 project-based federal Housing Choice vouchers. Additionally, DHCD is allocating $4.8 million in state housing tax credits and $10.9 million in federal housing tax credits, which will create approximately $125 million in equity.

Affordable Rental Housing Awards

The Residences at Kelly’s Corner is a new construction project for seniors to be built in Acton. The sponsor is the non-profit Common Ground Development Corporation. DHCD will support the project with federal low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The town of Acton also will support the project with local funds. When completed, the project will offer 31 units affordable to seniors earning less than 60 percent of AMI, including 10 units reserved for seniors earning less than 30 percent of AMI. As required by DHCD policy, the sponsor also will provide support services to new senior residents of the project.

37 Union Street is a historic adaptive re-use project in Attleboro. The sponsor is the for‑profit E3 Development LLC. DHCD will support this transit-oriented, mixed-income project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Attleboro will support the project with local funds. When completed, 37 Union Street will offer 59 total rental units. 42 units will be restricted for households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units further restricted for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI.

1599 Columbus Avenue is a 65-unit new construction project located in Boston. The sponsor is the non-profit Urban Edge. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Boston also will support the project with local funds. When completed, all 65 units will be reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units further reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families making the transition from homelessness.  Urban Edge intends to build the project to Passive House standards.

2147 Washington is a new construction mixed-income project to be built near Nubian Square in Boston. The sponsor is a partnership between New Atlantic Development and the Dream Collaborative. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Boston also will support the project with local funds. When completed, 2147 Washington will offer 62 total rental units. 45 rental units will be reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 16 units further reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families transitioning from homelessness. In addition to rental units, the project will feature 12 condominium for-sale units and a new café for the Haley House. The sponsor intends to build 2147 Washington to Passive House standards.

9 Leyland is a 43-unit new construction project for seniors to be built in Boston. The sponsor is Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Boston also will support the project with local funds. When completed, all 43 units at 9 Leyland will be reserved for seniors earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 11 units further restricted for seniors earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including seniors transitioning from homelessness. In accordance with DHCD requirements for senior housing, the sponsor, working with Hebrew Senior Life, will offer support services to the new residents of 9 Leyland. The sponsor intends to build the project to Passive House standards.

Dudley Crossing 1 is a 47-unit new construction and preservation project located in Roxbury. The sponsor is the non-profit Nuestra Comunidad. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Boston also will support the project with local funds. When completed, 42 of the 47 total units will be reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 5 units further restricted for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families transitioning from homelessness.

Morton Station Village is a new construction project to be built in Mattapan. The sponsor is the non-profit Caribbean Integration Community Development, working with the Planning Office of the Archdiocese of Boston. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Boston also will support the project with local funds. When completed, Morton Station Village will offer 31 total residential units, with 24 units reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, and 7 units further restricted for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families transitioning from homelessness. In addition to 31 rental units, the project will include 9 condominium for-sale units.

1005 Broadway is a 38-unit new construction project located in Chelsea. The sponsor is Traggorth Companies. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Chelsea also will support the project with funds of its own. When completed, all 38 units at 1005 Broadway will be reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units further reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families making the transition from homelessness. The sponsor intends to build the project to Passive House standards.

910 Main Street is a 49-unit new construction project in Great Barrington. The sponsor is the non-profit Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire, working with the non-profit Way Finders of Springfield. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The town of Great Barrington also will support the project with local funds. When completed, 910 Main Street will offer 49 units reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 15 units further reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families making the transition from homelessness.

The Lighthouses is a 44-unit new construction project on two sites in Salem. The sponsor is the non-profit North Shore Community Development Coalition. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Salem also will support the project with local funds. When completed, all 46 units will be reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units further reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families making the transition from homelessness.  The sponsor intends to build The Lighthouses to Passive House standards.

The Union Block is a historic rehabilitation/adaptive re-use project located in Taunton’s central business district. The sponsor is the non-profit Neighborhood of Affordable Housing (NOAH). DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The city of Taunton also will support the project with local funds. When completed, The Union Block will offer 38 total units. 26 units will be reserved for households earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 4 units further restricted for households earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including households transitioning from homelessness.

Woodland Cove Phase 1 is a new construction mixed-income project in Wareham. The sponsor is Dakota Partners, Inc. DHCD will support the project with federal and state low-income housing tax credits and subsidy funds. The town of Wareham also will support the project with local funds.  When completed, Woodland Cove Phase 1 will offer 63 total units. 56 units will be reserved for families earning less than 60 percent of AMI, with 8 units further reserved for families earning less than 30 percent of AMI, including families making the transition from homelessness. The sponsor intends to build Woodland Cove Phase 1 to Passive House standards.

Preliminary Guidance Issued on Housing Choice Law

by | Mar 1, 2021 | Housing News

On February 26, the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development published preliminary guidance for local officials on determining voting thresholds for zoning ordinances and bylaws under the new Housing Choice law.

The guidance, along with other information on the changes made to M.G.L. ch. 40A, can be found online on the Mass.gov webpage for Housing Choice and MBTA Communities Legislation.

The page also includes a link to request an advisory opinion on whether a zoning proposal affects a Ch.40A eligible location.

ACTION ALERT: Ask Your State Legislators to Co-Sponsor CHAPA’s Priorities

by | Feb 25, 2021 | Housing News

It’s a brand new legislative session, and CHAPA staff are already hard at work putting together CHAPA’s legislative agenda for 2021-2022. In the meantime, we need your help in asking your legislators to show their support for affordable housing priorities this session.

Please email or call your State Representative and Senator TODAY to ask them to co-sponsor CHAPA’s legislative priorities below for affordable housing, community development, and homelessness prevention! 

These priorities will help us recover from the impacts of COVID-19 while moving forward on long-term solutions to the affordable housing challenges we were facing long before the pandemic. The legislation will create more affordable housing, restore our public housing, promote fair housing, raise resources for affordable housing, and protect tenants facing eviction.

As always, thank you for your advocacy. We will have more details for you on our full legislative agenda soon. Be sure to keep an eye out for an invitation to our Virtual Housing Day in the spring too!

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

As your constituent, I ask that you please co-sponsor the following bills related to affordable housing, community development, and homelessness prevention. This legislation will help us begin to recover from the virus while also moving forward on long-term solutions to the tremendous affordable housing challenges we were facing long before the pandemic. We need to pass these bills this session to help everyone have a safe, healthy, and affordable home. Thank you!

HOUSING PRODUCTION (HD.3945 & SD.2313)
Sponsors: Reps. Honan & Vargas and Sen. Crighton
Increases affordable housing production, removes restrictive zoning barriers, and proposes innovative land-use solutions to create more affordable housing.

RESTORING PUBLIC HOUSING (HD.3891 & SD.2469)
Sponsors: Rep. Honan and Sen. Crighton
Helps restore our state’s public housing by allowing housing authorities to leverage new and additional resources for rehabilitation and redevelopment.

PROHIBITING EXCLUSIONARY ZONING (HD.1990 & SD.2200)
Sponsors: Rep. Barber and Sen. Chang-Diaz
Prohibits restrictive land use, zoning, and permitting decisions that perpetuate segregation.

AFFIRMATIVELY FURTHERING FAIR HOUSING (HD.3733 & SD.1990)
Sponsors: Reps. Dave Rogers & Santiago and Sen. Boncore
Creates a statewide duty to affirmatively further fair housing and create inclusive communities.

FAIR HOUSING DISPARATE IMPACT STANDARD (HD.3669 & SD.1765)
Sponsors: Rep. Dave Rogers and Sen. Boncore
Creates a statewide disparate impact standard to protect people against housing discrimination.

STRENGTHENING MRVP (HD.3277 & SD.1899)
Sponsors: Rep. Madaro and Sen. Lovely
Strengthens the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) by codifying the program and making improvements.

REVENUE FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING & CLIMATE (HD.1252 & SD.611)
Sponsors: Rep. Elugardo and Sen. Eldridge
Increases the deeds excise tax on the sale of real property and dedicates the revenue towards affordable housing and climate sustainability.

RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR EVICTIONS (HD.2441 & SD.1906)
Sponsors: Reps. Day & Dave Rogers and Sen. DiDomenico
Provides legal representation for low-income tenants and owner-occupants in eviction proceedings.

EVICTION RECORD SEALING (HD.1899 & SD.798)
Sponsors: Rep. Mike Moran and Sen. Boncore
Seals certain eviction records to protect tenants if there is no judgment against them or if they were not evicted.

REDUCING CPA RECORDING FEES FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING (HD.1851)
Sponsors: Rep. Ferrante
Reduces CPA recording fees for affordable housing.