by iwd Tina | Jan 15, 2021 | Housing News
On January 13th, the Baker-Polito Administration made updates to include residents and staff of public & private low income and affordable senior housing as a priority group in the Phase 2 (tier 1) COVID-19 vaccine distribution. This would ensure that seniors with low-income, who have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, will be vaccinated early on in the vaccine distribution process.
Find out when more about the state’s Vaccine Distribution Plan and when residents can get vaccinated.
The high density environments in senior affordable housing place our buildings at high risk for rapid COVID spread. With many residents in their mid-80s and 90s, such spread would surely result in a very high number of lengthy hospitalizations and death. Many affordable senior housing sites have populations that mirror those in assisted living settings and even nursing homes and need the vaccinations urgently.
CHAPA advocated for residents of state’s affordable senior housing to be included in the vaccine priority along with the Federal senior housing and assisted and congregate living setting.
CHAPA thanks the Baker-Polito Administration for including seniors with low-income for vaccine deployment in Phase 2 thus ensuring equitable recovery in the COVID-19 pandemic.
The vaccinations for affordable senior housing are likely to begin by the end of February 2021. Following types of senior housing properties will be prioritized for COVID-19 vaccines in tier one of the Phase two of Vaccine Distribution Plan:
- Public housing properties designated primarily for older adults that are owned/operated by Local Housing Authorities. This includes those public housing properties owned by a Housing Authority but managed by a private company.
- Privately owned properties designated for older adults that are financed in whole or part through resources made available from DHCD, MassHousing, or the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and in which the majority of units are restricted to residents earning less than 80% of Area Median Income
Residents and staff can receive the vaccines on-site or off-site with the help of their existing pharmacy partnerships/medical or community health provider, through their Local Boards of Health, or through a Mass Vaccination Site. Find more information on COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Guidance for Public and Private Low Income and Affordable Senior Housing.
Some federally run senior facilities are already receiving vaccines through the Federal Pharmacy Partnership program. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had recommended that HUD’s Section 202 affordable senior housing be in the first phase of vaccine distribution.
For questions regarding the guidance or implementation of the vaccine deployment options – please contact: SeniorHousingVaccine@mass.gov.
by iwd Tina | Jan 15, 2021 | Housing News
On January 14, 2021, Governor Baker signed economic development legislation (H.5250) into law, which contained many of CHAPA’s housing priorities, including:
- Housing Choice, reducing the voting threshold to a simple majority for smart growth zoning and affordable housing;
- Multifamily zoning requirements for communities with MBTA stations (subway, commuter rail, bus stations, and ferry terminals); zoning must ensure housing is suitable for families with children;
- $20 million increase to the state Low Income Housing Tax Credit;
- Public Housing Tenant Election Process, which is critical to filling tenant board seats and ensuring tenants always have a seat at the decision making table;
- Abutter Appeals Reform, allowing judges to require the posting of bonds of up to $50,000 to discourage frivolous lawsuits brought only to slow or stop new housing development; and
- Prevent the naming of minors in eviction cases
In addition, the Governor signed into law authorization of $50 million for affordable housing around transit, $10 million for sustainable and climate-resilient affordable multifamily housing, and $50 million for neighborhood stabilization to help return blighted or vacant housing back to productive use. The Governor also signed Boston’s Linkage and Inclusionary Development home rule petition, allowing the City to make changes without going to the Legislature for approval.
More information on the housing-related sections are contained on this slide deck.
These changes include the first comprehensive zoning reforms in Massachusetts in the last 40 years!
Vetoes
The Governor vetoed the tenant opportunity to purchase act which would have created a local option for communities to provide residents the right of first refusal to purchase their building if it was being put up for sale. The Governor also vetoed affordability requirements and reporting on the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) and he vetoed eviction record sealing for no fault evictions. Although not included in the final law, we look forward to going to work immediately on these important issues related to tenant protections and affordable housing.
Thank You!
Thank you to everyone who advocated over many years to help make these changes possible!
There are so many legislators to thank who championed these housing reforms, including Housing Committee Chairs Representative Kevin Honan and Senator Brendan Crighton; long-time housing supporter Senator Joe Boncore; Representatives Andy Vargas and Christine Barber and Senator Harriette Chandler who have filed and led on advocating for these policies; Senator Eric Lesser and Representative Aaron Michlewitz, the chief negotiators on the Economic Development Bill; and Senate President Karen Spilka, Speaker Ron Mariano, and former Speaker Bob DeLeo for their leadership.
Thanks also to Governor Baker and Secretary Kennealy for leading on zoning reform and making housing a priority!
And, of course, we could not have successfully advocated for this bill without our many advocacy partners!
by iwd Tina | Jan 13, 2021 | Housing News
In response to the unprecedented volume of applications for emergency rental assistance, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) has announced changes to improve the RAFT and Emergency Mortgage and Rental Assistance (ERMA) programs.
For RAFT, DHCD is increasing the maximum benefit to $10,000 for all approved applicants, not just renters affected by COVID-19. This “one-pot” of funds should make it easier for agencies to administer. It will also make the maximum benefit available for both renters and homeowners and allow the $10,000 to be used more flexibly, including to maintain housing or secure new housing.
Also for RAFT, DHCD is removing the sustainability requirement. This means households will be eligible for RAFT as long as the benefit of up to $10,000 will solve the presenting housing crisis – such as an eviction or notice to quit. The 6-month housing commitment by the landlord is no longer required to access the $10,000 maximum benefit.
For ERMA, DHCD announced that effective as of January 12, 2021, the maximum benefit for ERMA is being increased from $4,000 to $10,000 within any 12-month period. Households may not receive more than $10,000 of RAFT or ERMA combined assistance within a 12-month period.
Finally, DHCD is coordinating a Rental Assistance Processing Center to help review and process backlogged RAFT applications to accelerate payments to those facing a housing crisis. The Processing Center will complement and support the work of the current RAFT administering agencies. Metro Housing|Boston and Way Finders in Springfield, will be first to use the Processing Center, with the possibility of expanding to additional regions.
by iwd Tina | Jan 13, 2021 | Housing News
The Baker-Polito launched an interactive Eviction Diversion Initiative Dashboard to provide monthly summary statistics about the Massachusetts COVID-19 Eviction Diversion Initiative. The dashboard can be used to view statistics and information for each of the Eviction Diversion Initiative programs.
by iwd Tina | Jan 6, 2021 | Housing News
In the early hours of January 6, the Legislature sent its final Economic Development bill (H.5250) to the Governor. The bill includes many transformative housing policies that CHAPA and our membership have advocated for, including Housing Choice, zoning for multi-family housing in MBTA communities, and other provisions that will allow more Massachusetts residents to find and stay in affordable homes in communities of their choose.
A shortage of affordable homes, decades of restrictive zoning, and a history of gentrification and redlining continue to perpetuate segregation in our state. The housing provisions in the Economic Development bill are much-needed tools for systemic change towards more equitable housing policy. With these tools, communities will be able to create more homes for people who need them while preventing displacement and promoting fair housing for all.
CHAPA thanks House Speaker Mariano, Senate President Spilka, Representative Michlewitz, Senator Lessor, other members of the Economic Development Bill conference committee, Housing Committee Chairs Representative Honan and Senator Crighton, and the Legislature for supporting these critical reforms.
The Governor now has ten days to sign or veto the bill. We are urging Governor Baker to quickly sign the bill to make these policies, tools, and resources available for our communities to help create more housing and recover from the pandemic.
Visit our Action Alert page to learn how you can contact the Governor to ask that he sign the bill.
The following is a summary of the housing-related items in the Economic Development Bill. This link provides a slide-deck with an overview of the housing-related provisions.
Housing Choice
Implements zoning reform to help cities and towns approve smart growth zoning and affordable housing by lowering the required vote threshold for a range of housing-related zoning changes and special permits at the local level from a two-thirds supermajority to a simple majority.
Multifamily Zoning in MBTA Communities
Requires designated MBTA communities to be zoned for at least one district of reasonable size in which multi-family housing is permitted as-of-right.
Abutter Appeals
Allows judges to require non-municipal parties who appeal special permits, site plan review, and variances to post a bond up to $50,000 to secure statutory costs. This provides judges with discretion to consider the merits of the appeal and the relative financial ability of the parties. This will discourage frivolous lawsuit brought only to slow or stop new housing development.
Local Housing Authority Board Member Elections
Creates a process for residents of local housing authorities to be appointed to the boards of their housing authority.
State Low-income Housing Tax Credit
Increases the annual state low-income housing tax credit program cap from $20,000,000 to $40,000,000.
Eviction Record Sealing
Seals all no-fault eviction records. Also prohibits minors from being named in a summary process summons and requires expungement of the names of any minors from any court record or electronic docket.
Transit-Oriented Housing Developments
Authorizes $50,000,000 in capital grants and loans for transit-oriented housing and the production of high-density mixed-income affordable housing near transit.
Climate-Resilient Affordable Housing Developments
Authorizes $10,000,000 for sustainable and climate-resilient construction in affordable, multifamily housing developments to better respond to climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Neighborhood Stabilization
Authorizes $50,000,000 for neighborhood stabilization to help return blighted or vacant housing back to productive use.
Tenant’s Right to Purchase
Creates a local option establishing a tenant’s right of first refusal and outlines a process by which tenants occupying a residential property may purchase said property prior to its sale or foreclosure.
Gateway Cities Housing Program
Authorizes $5,000,000 for a Gateway City housing pilot program to support the construction of shovel-ready market-rate housing opportunities.
HDIP Programmatic changes
Requires at least 10% of units built with the Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) to be affordable for people whose income is not more than 60% of the area median income (AMI) or owner-occupied units for those whose income is not more than 80% AMI. Also amends the HDIP program to increase transparency and equity.
40R Smart Growth
Permits the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to establish smart growth design standards, clarifies that mixed use development is allowed, places limitations on density bonus payments for housing in districts limited to age-restricted, disabled, or assisted living populations, and enhances DHCD’s ability to claw back incentive payments if a community repeals 40R zoning.
