by Jenna Connolly | May 5, 2026 | Featured News, Housing News
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) today announced the selection of Eric Shupin as its next chief executive officer.
Shupin brings extensive experience advancing housing policy, organizational strategy, and systems change in Massachusetts. Known for his collaborative leadership style and ability to align diverse stakeholders, he has worked across government, nonprofit, and private-sector partners to expand housing access and affordability.
“I’m honored to return to CHAPA at such an important moment for housing in Massachusetts,” said Shupin. “For decades, CHAPA has brought people together to drive meaningful progress on the Commonwealth’s most pressing housing challenges, and I’m excited to build on that legacy. I look forward to working with the team and our partners statewide to take on the challenges ahead and continue delivering results for residents and communities across the Commonwealth.”
Shupin most recently served as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC), where he helped stand up the state’s cabinet-level housing secretariat and led the drafting and implementation of the Affordable Homes Act, a landmark $5.2 billion housing investment and reform package.
“Eric was one of the first staff to join HLC, and over the past three years his knowledge, expertise and positive attitude have helped turn great ideas into impactful policies that are now working to deliver more homes, faster,” said Juana Matias, Secretary of HLC. “We are immensely proud as he steps-up to lead CHAPA and grateful that his voice and vision will continue to guide housing policy here in Massachusetts for years to come.”
Prior to his role at EOHLC, Shupin served as Director of Public Policy at CHAPA, shaping its state and federal advocacy agenda and strengthening its role as a trusted convener across the housing field.
“After a thorough search, we are elated to welcome Eric Shupin back to the CHAPA team,” said Leslie Reid, board president of CHAPA and director of investment programs at Massachusetts Housing and Investment Corporation (MHIC). “His background in housing policy and consensus building and his commitment to creating thriving communities in Massachusetts will bolster CHAPA’s ongoing work to ensure everyone has a safe, affordable, and welcoming place to call home. With Eric at the helm as our next chief executive officer, we are excited to see him further the great work CHAPA is doing to make a better Massachusetts for everyone through housing.”
For nearly 60 years, CHAPA has been at the forefront of housing advocacy, providing policy leadership, coalition-building, and research to expand affordable housing opportunities throughout the Commonwealth. Under Shupin’s leadership, CHAPA aims to deepen its impact and accelerate progress toward housing equity.
“CHAPA has been an incredible partner to our administration. They were instrumental in the development of our Affordable Homes Act and in our continuing efforts to build more housing across Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “Eric has been at the helm of those efforts for our administration, advancing our state’s housing policy and driving our commitment to more affordable and more accessible housing. We’re thrilled to support him in this new chapter as CEO of CHAPA.”
“For years, Eric has been an incredible advocate for housing. His leadership at HLC led to the passing of our landmark housing legislation and to thousands of new homes being built across our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll. “While we’re sad to see him go, we’re thrilled to work with him in this new role and to continue our administration’s collaboration with CHAPA.”
Shupin will step into the role on June 15, 2026. He will succeed Rachel Heller, who served as chief executive officer of CHAPA for nearly a decade before transitioning to the executive director role at Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).
by Jacob Love | Apr 1, 2026 | Featured News, Housing News
Recently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (“HUD”) has issued a series of proposed rules that would be harmful to families in federal rental assistance programs. CHAPA has created a Resource Guide designed to help members of the public weigh in on these and future HUD proposals.
HUD is currently in the process of adopting three proposed rules, which are not yet final. The agency is accepting public comments on all three rules and each rule has its own comment deadline in either late April or early May. The proposals would have a huge impact on HUD programs, including by:
- Stopping federal rental assistance from going to families with mixed immigration status;
- Allowing housing authorities and some landlords to impose work requirement rules and time limits on participants in major rental assistance programs; and
- Ending a pre-eviction notice requirement for tenants in certain HUD programs.
If HUD formally adopts these proposals, it will force thousands of families out of rental assistance programs and into housing instability. One thing that people can do to push back on these rules is submit public comments. Not only can anyone submit a public comment, but they can also do so anonymously.
HUD is required to review timely submitted public comments and respond to significant issues raised therein. As a result, even brief, informal comments can make a big difference. For a comment to be impactful, the only thing the commenter needs to do is share their unique perspective.
The aim of CHAPA’s Resource Guide is to help the public: (1) understand the comment process; and (2) write and submit an effective comment. The Guide also includes important information for each pending HUD proposal, like the relevant comment deadline and a link to submit comments.
If you or someone you know is interested in submitting a public comment to HUD, you can access the Resource Guide here: https://bit.ly/CHAPA-HUD-Response.
by Jenna Connolly | Feb 4, 2026 | Featured News, Housing News
For more than 50 years, the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program–often referred to as Section 8–has been our country’s largest rental assistance program. As of September 2025, more than 92,000 Massachusetts households rely on HCVs. However, funding uncertainty and potential changes to the program, like time limits and work requirements, have threatened the stability of HCVs.
This report shows the program’s direct impact in addressing our state’s housing affordability challenges, promoting housing access and choice across the state, and easing the burden for many households with very low incomes, including working families.
Major Findings:
- 9.2% of all Massachusetts renter households rely on an HCV, compared to 5.6% nationally.
- HCVs are distributed throughout the state rather than concentrated in Boston—only 18% of mobile vouchers are used in the city.
- Mobile voucher holders are less likely to live in a high-poverty area than households in project-based units.
- Older adults and persons with disabilities head the majority of HCV households.
- Length of time in the program exceeds national numbers.
- The majority of “work-able” households are working; however, a not insignificant number show no reported wage income.
Read the full report on our website. Missed the webinar? Watch it in full on YouTube or view the slides.
by Jenna Connolly | Jan 8, 2026 | Featured News, Housing News
We write to share important news about a leadership transition at Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA). After 13 years of dedicated service to CHAPA, including nine years as our Chief Executive Officer, Rachel Heller will be stepping down from her role to become the next Executive Director of Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP).
During Rachel’s tenure, CHAPA has grown stronger as a leading voice and convener for the affordable housing and community development field. Under her leadership, CHAPA expanded its advocacy to advance equitable housing opportunities, built new partnerships with diverse stakeholders statewide, and strengthened the organization’s commitment to ensuring affordable housing and choice in every community. While we will deeply miss Rachel’s vision, energy, and steadfast leadership, we are thrilled that she will continue to shape the future of affordable housing in Massachusetts through her new role at MHP.
“On behalf of CHAPA and key Massachusetts housing stakeholders, we are deeply grateful for Rachel’s impactful leadership over the last thirteen years. She both stewarded and expanded CHAPA’s important legacy of advocacy for safe, affordable, and welcoming homes statewide so everyone has a place to call home in the communities they choose,” said Leslie Reid, CHAPA President and Chief of Investment Programs at Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation. “We are thrilled that she will continue to advance important initiatives toward greater affordable housing access and opportunity for all residents as Executive Director at Massachusetts Housing Partnership.”
CHAPA’s Board of Directors will soon begin a search process for our next CEO. Please stay tuned for the job posting next week. Rachel will continue as CHAPA CEO’s until the last week of February, when our Chief Operating Officer, Maritza Crossen, will step in as Interim CEO. In the meantime, please join us in congratulating Rachel on this exciting new chapter and in celebrating her many contributions to CHAPA and the affordable housing field.
We have so many exciting ongoing initiatives at CHAPA, and we will continue to move full steam ahead towards our strategic goals. Please join us at the upcoming federal forum and the Housing Policy Action Center’s research webinar. Continue to advocate with us for state legislation and budget priorities that further affordable housing opportunity, equity, and access. Our brand new Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy has kicked off with its first cohort of community leaders dedicated to creating thriving communities, and we can’t wait to share more updates with you as this program progresses.
by Jenna Connolly | Nov 21, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
Over 400 housing leaders from across the Commonwealth, including Governor Maura Healey, Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, and Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus, convened yesterday to shape how the Commonwealth can boost our housing production and meet the state’s goal of 222,000 homes by 2035. Hosted by Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA), the Housing Summit featured experts in modular housing, infrastructure, and climate innovation who presented creative solutions to meet the Commonwealth’s housing shortage.
“It was inspiring to join so many thoughtful and committed leaders at the CHAPA Summit who have been strong partners in our efforts to make housing more affordable across Massachusetts,” said Governor Maura Healey. “With CHAPA’s support, we’ve made significant progress — passing the Affordable Homes Act, legalizing ADUs by right, creating an Office of Fair Housing and setting the first ever statewide housing production goal. Thanks to this work, we have nearly 100,000 housing starts already underway and we’re going to continue our partnership to build more housing and lower costs for the people of Massachusetts.”
The Summit opened with a panel led by Secretary Augustus and his colleagues from across sectors: Commissioner Adam Baacke, DCAMM Undersecretary for Environment Stephanie Cooper, Undersecretary of Labor Josh Cutler, and Chief Melissa Hoffer. The panel explored how the Commonwealth can work together as a state to meet Massachusetts’ housing goals. Senator Julian Cyr and Representative Andy Vargas gave opening remarks after the panel.
“The Healey-Driscoll Administration knows that we need to accelerate housing production right now to bring down costs and provide relief to renters and homeowners navigating the tight housing market,” said Ed Augustus, Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities. “As we look to what’s next for housing in Massachusetts, we are grateful to CHAPA and today’s summit for convening the best minds in housing policy to brainstorm new solutions and deliver impact.”
Other topics explored during the event included exploring how strategic land reuse, such as the Yes in God’s Backyard (YIGBY) legislation, can dramatically increase housing capacity across the Commonwealth, using innovative construction methods, such as Mass timber, to build sustainable housing faster, and finally how developers will obtain the capital and train the workforce to build the housing needed in communities across the state. Visit the Housing Summit website for the full event agenda with panel topics and speakers.
Building on the lessons learned from the Summit, CHAPA will lead efforts to turn insights into action, creating tangible outcomes that help thousands of Massachusetts residents gain and maintain stable housing.
Summit attendees also heard from experts from Nectar Community Investments, Reframe Systems, Way Finders, Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), Devens Enterprise Commission, BLD Properties, Northern Middlesex Council of Governments (NMCOG), Community Economic Development Assistance Corporation (CEDAC), Boston Communities, Mass Cultural Council, The Lynch Foundation, the Office of Real Estate Management Division of Capital Asset Management & Maintenance (DCAMM), Father Bill’s & MainSpring, ISC Massachusetts, Boston Housing Authority, Beacon Communities, Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation, Massachusetts Community Climate Bank, Causeway Development, National Housing Crisis Task Force, CREA, State Street, MassHousing, Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC), ICON Architecture, City of Boston, Massachusetts Clean Energy Center, Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH), Stantec, National Development, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Harvard University, Graduate School of Design, Capstone Communities, WoodWorks – Wood Products Council, Monte French Design Studio, Code Red Consultants, Leggat McCall Properties LLC, NEI General Contracting, MassINC Policy Center, Just A Start, and Massachusetts American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
by Jenna Connolly | Nov 6, 2025 | Featured News, Housing News
Citizens’ Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA) opened applications for its new Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy, a six-month fellowship designed to empower local officials with the knowledge, skills, and network to create more homes for people of all ages, incomes, and abilities in their communities. With a housing shortage of 222,000 new homes needed by 2035 and local decision-making determining much of the Commonwealth’s development, strengthening the voices of pro-housing municipal leaders will benefit Massachusetts’ communities, people, and economy.
“When we work towards creating more housing in every city and town, teachers, nurses, and firefighters can afford to live near their workplace. People can downsize in the communities they love. College graduates can come home,” said Rachel Heller, CHAPA’s chief executive officer. “The Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy will prepare local leaders to meet the housing needs of all members of their communities so everyone can thrive.”
CHAPA’s Academy is free and open to: Mayors, City and Town Councilors, Planning and Select Board Members, Finance Committee members, and any members of boards and commissions who can impact housing. The Academy’s curriculum will cover the history and causes of the Commonwealth’s housing shortage, municipal solutions, and strategies for taking those solutions from idea to implementation. Fellows will benefit from monthly virtual workshops with housing experts, monthly cohort meetings, and more.
The Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy builds upon CHAPA’s proven community engagement model. CHAPA’s Municipal Engagement Initiative, a program supporting local pro-housing coalition-building, has worked in 45 communities since 2018 with groups like Engine 6 in Newton and the Greater Newburyport Housing Choice Coalition. In 2023, CHAPA expanded its reach to offer free technical assistance and community engagement to planners seeking compliance with the MBTA Communities Act. 97% of the 85 communities CHAPA supported have now achieved compliance.
“Proactive, inclusive, and informed community engagement can move the needle on creating more housing opportunities,” said Lily Linke, CHAPA’s director of municipal engagement. “From the Cape to the Berkshires, there are countless elected and appointed local officials who are dedicated to solving their communities’ housing challenges, and the Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy can provide them with the tools they need to succeed.”
The first fellowship of the Massachusetts Housing Leadership Academy will run from January to June 2026. Those interested in the Academy can apply or nominate an official in their community at bit.ly/MAHousingLeadershipAcademy until December 15, 2025.
