by iwd Tina | Jun 20, 2011 | Housing News
From Enterprise Community Partners – On September 30, President Obama signed into law a conference report that contains the continuing resolution to fund most of the federal government until October 31. The resolution was included as part of the FY 2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (HR 2918) which passed the Senate earlier that day by a vote of 62-38, previously by the House on September 25. The Continuing Resolution (CR) provides funding for government activities at FY 2009 levels.
In addition to generally maintaining spending at FY 2009 levels, the CR provides for extensions of existing project-based Section 8, Section 202, and Section 811 rental assistance contracts for a full twelve months of funding upon expiration. Additionally, the CR extends FHA lending programs at higher commitment rates than would normally be allowed under the terms of a standard continuing resolution. Finally, the CR prohibits all funding under the CR and previous spending bills to ACORN and its affiliates.
To view a detailed budget breakdown and comparison, see Enterprise’s FY 2010 Budget Chart.
Visit the Library of Congress website for further information on the Continuing Resolution.
by Jenna Connolly | Nov 20, 2024 | Housing News
As of November 20, 2024, over 100 Massachusetts cities and towns have passed zoning districts to comply with the MBTA Communities Law. This innovative law aims to address Massachusetts’ housing shortage by allowing modest types of housing, like duplexes, triple-deckers, and low-rise apartment buildings, near transit. These newly approved multifamily zoning districts will bring us closer to the 200,000 homes that Massachusetts needs by 2030 to stabilize housing prices. Many communities took their commitment to housing one step further by using this new zoning to incorporate affordability as well.
“Communities across Massachusetts are overwhelmingly embracing the MBTA Communities Act. They understand that every municipality has a collective responsibility to ensure we are part of fostering a healthy and vibrant Commonwealth,” said Rachel Heller, Chief Executive Officer of the Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). “Massachusetts needs more homes that families, older adults, and the local workforce can afford, and these MBTA Communities are doing their part by allowing the creation of more of these types of homes.”
For decades, strict local zoning policies limited opportunities for people by preventing the construction of anything other than single-family homes on large lots. With land values skyrocketing, these policies create barriers that leave some people out of the housing market entirely. Through coalition building, broad outreach, and inclusive community engagement, these 100 MBTA Communities have taken meaningful action to address those barriers.
“The MBTA Communities Act is succeeding at the local level because municipal leaders know that more housing is crucial to the future success of the Commonwealth,” said Lily Linke, CHAPA’s MBTA Communities Engagement Senior Manager. “The vast majority of cities and towns are doing their part in allowing the homes that our residents need, not just because it’s the right thing to do, but because they recognize that when our neighbors thrive, we all thrive.”
CHAPA’s MBTA Communities technical assistance program has supported 45 of these communities by educating residents about the law, consulting with local planners on community engagement, and supporting local pro-housing coalitions as they worked to pass new zoning. 90% of communities that participated in CHAPA’s program have approved an MBTA Communities District, compared to an 83% passage rate overall.
CHAPA congratulates the planners, advocates, elected officials, consultants, and everyone who helped make this milestone possible. We look forward to continuing our work across Massachusetts to encourage communities to embrace and adopt multi-family zoning.
When we say yes to more housing in our communities, we are closer to the Massachusetts we all want and deserve – where everyone has access to a safe, healthy, and affordable home in the community of their choice.
by KRISTEN | Oct 12, 2024 | Housing News
CHAPA’s Municipal Engagement Initiative (MEI) is now accepting applications for 2-3 new communities to join our year-long program!
Since 2018, MEI has built support for affordable housing in communities across the Commonwealth and implemented a community engagement strategy that is responsive to each unique environment. MEI has supported coalitions in more than 20 communities and provided technical assistance in over 45 municipalities since its inception.
If you’re interested in joining the program, please complete this form and learn more about the applicant criteria on MEI’s page on our website.
by iwd Tina | Jun 29, 2011 | Housing News
Boston Globe – US Representative Barney Frank said yesterday he wants the government to spend $10 billion to jump-start the stalled development of affordable rental housing nationwide, including 31 projects in Massachusetts that can’t move forward because of a lack of funds.
Please click here to read the full article.
by iwd Tina | Jun 20, 2011 | Housing News
Massachusetts is facing a housing crisis similar to the rest of the country. Affordable housing developers that have already received tax credit allocations have run into great difficulties in securing necessary investors because of the economic downturn. There is now strong national consensus that the pending American Recovery and Reinvestment Act can go a long way towards fixing this short-term problem by adopting four temporary measures.
Please click here to read the national sign-on letter for the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program signed by CHAPA and other national housing organizations.
by iwd Tina | Jun 20, 2011 | Housing News
WASHINGTON – With the Making Home Affordable (MHA) program delivering much-needed relief to homeowners and to our economy just over two months after the release of program guidelines, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan today provided an update on the program’s impact on stemming the housing crisis and keeping families in their homes and announced new options for homeowners facing foreclosure.
Please click here for the full press release.
