CHAPA Releases Gubernatorial Candidates Policy Paper – September 27, 2010

by | Jun 21, 2011 | Housing News

Solving the affordable housing crisis in Massachusettsrequires strong executive leadership that keeps affordable housing a top public policy priority. It also requires multiple strategies that meet a range of needs through both new production and preservation of existing rental and ownership housing for low and moderate income families and individuals, as well as establishing channels to facilitate the production of housing for all income levels.

In this policy paper, CHAPA recommends the following housing policy strategies to gubernatorial candidates:

1. Preserve Existing Private Subsidized Housing
2. Preserve and Revitalize State Public Housing
3. Preserve Chapter 40B
4. Increase the Production of Affordable Housing
5. End Homelessness/Expand Access to Housing
6. Minimize Foreclosures, Revitalize Neighborhoods, Sustain Homeownership
7. Collaborate with Municipalities to Support Housing and Planning Efforts
8. Promote Fair Housing, Accessibility and Choice 20
9. Support Community Development Corporations and Other Non-profits

Download the full document here.

Innovative Public-Private Partnership Introduces $100M Program to Preserve Affordable Rental Homes – December 16, 2010

by | Jun 21, 2011 | Housing News

(Chicago, IL) — An innovative partnership to finance the preservation of federally-subsidized rental housing in underserved markets brings together major financial institutions, philanthropy, and the federal government.

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, which is providing a $20 million guaranty in connection with this new effort, aims to attract $100 million for non-profit developers working to preserve and renovate approximately 20 rental properties nationwide serving more than 2,000 low-income residents. Projects already slated to move ahead include renovations of affordable rental housing for low-income families and seniors in Minneapolis, Oklahoma City, Omaha, and Toledo.

Please click here to read the full press release.

Bay State Foreclosure Petitions Drop In January (Banker & Tradesman) – March 2, 2010

by | Jun 21, 2011 | Housing News

The number of foreclosures started by lenders in Massachusetts during the month of January dropped to the lowest level in more than a year, according to a new report by The Warren Group, publisher of Banker & Tradesman.

Lenders filed 1,874 petitions to foreclose – which mark the first step in the foreclosure process in Massachusetts – in January, a 9 percent decrease from 2,060 in December and 4.4 percent drop from a year earlier. Foreclosure petitions exceeded 2,000 for most months in 2009, falling below that number only in January and November.

Please click here for the full article.